Posted on 09/14/2008 7:34:03 AM PDT by Fennie
Despite reservations in Washington regarding a possible Israeli strike on Iran, the American administration will supply Israel with sophisticated weapons for heavily fortified targets, the U.S. administration announced.
The U.S. Department of Defense announced it would sell the Israel Air Force 1,000 new smart bombs, rumored to significantly enhance the IAF's military capabilities. The deal was approved amid public and secret messages from Washington, with the Americans expressing their reservations about a possible Israeli strike against the Islamic Republic's suspected nuclear sites.
The Pentagon's announcement, which came on Friday, said the U.S. will provide Israel with 1,000 units of Guided Bomb Unit-39 (GBU-39) - a special weapon developed for penetrating fortified facilities located deep underground. The $77 million shipment, which includes launchers and appurtenances, will allow the IAF to hit many more bunkers than currently possible. Although each bomb weighs 113 kilograms, its penetration capabilities equal those of a one ton bomb, according to professional literature.
Most U.S. Air Force aircraft are able to carry a pack of four of these bombs in place of a single one-ton bomb. The bomb's small size allows a single-strike aircraft to carry more of the munitions than is possible utilizing currently available bomb units, thus increasing firepower, or, alternatively, allowing the aircraft to fly longer distances to deliver a single bomb.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
Cool deal and long overdue!
each bomb weighs 113 kilograms, its penetration capabilities equal those of a one ton bomb.
woooohoooooo! yah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Diplomacy without arms is like a musical score without instruments.”
There.
Thanks. This is great news. I was beginning to lose faith in Bush, but with this...........I wonder if he is listening to us?
"Oh dear, there's going to be cockroaches all over the place. Go bring him home and cleaned up for dinner, Lassie!"
Well, one thing I’m not is a good proofreader. Thanks for the correction.
Sheesh! Two cups of coffee, early afternoon, and I’m still not awake!
LOL!
GBU-28
My guess would be around Thanksgiving.
Whoo Hoo, how soon will they be able to take delivery?
The sooner the better!
GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SDB.html
Video: GBU-39/B Impact Aircraft Shelter
http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/weapons/gbu39/videos/gbu39_shelter.mpeg
It isn’t missing in the sense that it is in another county, it is missing in the sense that Iran has moved it to a factory/plant/etc. that they’ve kept hidden from the IAEA/International community.
“These ‘smart bombs’ are the wrong tool for the job...
One fights fire with fire, nuclear with nuclear.....
Iran’s fascination with nuclear weapons can be resolved by delivering a few........before they do..”
Cool—someone more hawkish than me! Now I can call myself a moderate.
I dont think Israel has the aircraft capability to lug the deep penetrator type of weapon all the way to IRAN. They would need a B1 at least.
correct - the munition for taking down a major underground site would be the 15 tonne Big BLU.
no IAF place can lift the thing - only B1 or B2.
place=plane
I’d be happier with Halloween.
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