On Thursday, 4 December 2025, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that the U.S. Department of State had approved the potential sale to Canada of a package of various types of precision air-launched munitions worth up to 2.86 billion USD.
Photo: Tech. Sgt. James Hodgman, USAF
According to the published information, the government in Ottawa requested authorization to purchase:
- 750 GBU-39/B SDB I small-diameter glide bombs (training configuration) with fuzes, along with 100 GBU-39 GTV test bombs;
- 100 Mark 82 general-purpose bombs (227 kg class);
- 220 BLU-117 general-purpose bombs (907 kg class);
- 146 I-2000 penetrating warheads;
- 3414 BLU-111 general-purpose bombs (227 kg class);
- 3108 GBU-39/B SDB I small-diameter glide bombs;
- 5352 KMU-572 tail guidance kits for conversion into GBU-38 JDAM guided bombs;
- 396 KMU-556 kits for GBU-31 JDAM bombs;
- 140 KMU-557 kits for GBU-31 JDAM bombs;
- 2004 GBU-53/B StormBreaker (formerly SDB II) guided bombs, along with 100 GBU-53/B GTV test bombs.
Additionally, the package includes several non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items, such as FMU-139 programmable fuzes, FMU-167 HTVSF (Hard Target Void Sensing Fuze) fuzes, DSU-38 laser sensors for GBU-54 LJDAM bombs, training bombs, ammunition tools and specialized equipment, hardware for major and minor modifications, spare and repair parts, consumables and accessories, repair-and-return support, associated weapons and auxiliary equipment, test equipment, training aids, devices and spare components, classified and unclassified software and software support, classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation, as well as technical, engineering and logistics support services from U.S. government and contractor personnel (Boeing and RTX), and other related logistics and program-support elements.
Earlier, on 21 May 2024, Canada received approval for a package of tail guidance kits to convert air-dropped bombs into JDAM precision-guided munitions, worth up to 96.4 million USD.
Analysis
Within the package listed above, it is worth briefly discussing two types of guided bombs.
GBU-53/B StormBreaker / Photo: RTX
The GBU-53/B StormBreaker is equipped with an innovative tri-mode seeker, which uses infrared imaging and millimeter-wave radar. The weapon can also employ a semi-active laser seeker or rely on GPS and inertial navigation guidance via the Link 16 data link to accurately strike targets. The bomb is capable of hitting moving targets with precision in adverse weather, low visibility, and in the presence of jamming (Expansion of StormBreaker guided bomb production).
The StormBreaker weighs 93 kg in total (with a 48-kg warhead) and has compact dimensions (176 cm in length and 15–18 cm in diameter). Its effective range is 72 km against moving targets and up to 110 km against stationary targets. Thanks to the BRU-61/A smart multiple carriage rack, a single aircraft can carry a substantial number of bombs. An F-15E can carry 28 bombs, while an F-35 can carry 24, including 8 inside its internal weapon bays and 16 on external hardpoints.
These bombs have previously been ordered or are planned to be ordered by the following export users: Australia, Norway, Germany, Czechia, Finland, Italy, and Japan.
It is also worth noting that in September of this year, RTX tested a prototype of a ground-launched variant of the small-diameter guided bomb, designated GL StormBreaker (Ground Launched).
GBU-39/B SDB I / Image: Boeing
The GBU-39/B SDB I (Small Diameter Bomb) weighs 129 kg (285 lb), is 1.8 m (70.8 in) long, and has a 190 mm (7.5 in) diameter. These bombs were first introduced into service, initially with the USAF, in 2005. Owing to their 129-kg mass, they can be carried four at a time on a BRU-61/A smart multiple carriage rack. They are glide bombs, capable of striking stationary targets at distances of over 110 km from the release point. The small warhead, containing 16 kg of AFX-757 explosive, combined with accuracy in the range of 5–8 meters, also reduces collateral damage.
Recently, approval to purchase this type of bomb has been granted to Norway, Romania, Morocco, and Japan, and on 4 September of this year, Poland ordered a large batch valued at approximately 120 million USD net (438.05 million PLN net / 538.80 million PLN gross), while the approval dated 21 May of this year covered 1,400 units worth up to 180 million USD (then 675.21 million PLN). Previously, the bombs were delivered to Japan (under a production contract dated 30 September 2024), Bulgaria, and Ukraine.
They also form part of the GLSDB (Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb) precision artillery munition, in which the bomb is combined with the rocket motor of the M26 DPICM (Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition) rocket. GLSDB was displayed in Poland at the most recent MSPO expo in Kielce, integrated with the Chunmoo launcher system.
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