The US Air Force Special Operations Command has equipped its MQ-9 Reaper drones with the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb, introducing a new long-range precision strike capability tailored for operations in heavily contested environments.
The lightweight, precision-guided munition broadens the MQ-9’s mission profile for unconventional warfare operations while helping minimize collateral damage through highly accurate targeting.
Aircraft involved in the programme are operated by the 27th Special Operations Wing based at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing supports a variety of missions including infiltration operations, aerial fire support, and combat resupply tasks.
GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb
The GBU-39B is a compact 250-pound (133-kilogram) guided bomb armed with a 36-pound (16-kilogram) high-explosive payload. Depending on launch altitude and speed, the weapon can glide significant distances toward its target while maintaining precision accuracy.
Capable of striking within roughly one meter of the designated aim point, the munition allows operators to engage targets from outside the engagement envelope of many enemy air defense systems.
Since entering US Air Force service in 2006, the bomb has been extensively deployed on fighter aircraft, bombers, and gunship platforms for precision strike operations.
Smart Dual-Carriage System
To support the new capability, the MQ-9 employs the BRU-78 smart dual bomb rack, a specialized carriage system developed for the Reaper platform. This configuration allows the drone to carry several low-yield precision weapons simultaneously, improving operational flexibility and expanding strike capacity during missions.
