At the MSPO 2025 defense exhibition in Kielce, Poland, Warsaw and Washington signed a contract for the supply of GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB I) to the Polish Air Force. The agreement, worth around $120 million, will see deliveries completed by 2028, enhancing Poland’s strike capabilities as it prepares to induct its fleet of F-35A fifth-generation fighters.
The GBU-39/B is a precision-guided, 113-kilogram munition optimized for internal carriage within stealth aircraft like the F-35. It offers the ability to hit high-value targets with minimal collateral damage, while its stand-off range of more than 110 kilometers allows engagements from safe distances without compromising stealth.
A key advantage of the weapon is its compact size—four SDBs can fit in the space typically occupied by a single 2,000-pound bomb. This provides pilots with greater strike flexibility and target options per sortie. While tailored for the F-35, the munition is also compatible with legacy platforms, including Poland’s F-16C/D Block 52+ fighters, which continue to play a vital role in NATO operations.
This dual-platform compatibility ensures that Poland can deploy the new bombs immediately on its existing F-16 fleet, delivering an operational edge even before its F-35s achieve full combat readiness.
