US approves $180 million sale of precision glide bombs to Poland

On May 21, 2025, the US Congress approved the $180 million Foreign Military Sale of 1,400 Boeing GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-I) to Poland, along with training, inert munitions, and logistical support. The deal marks a strategic move to bolster NATO’s eastern flank and reflects Washington’s ongoing commitment to strengthening allied precision-strike capabilities amid regional tensions.

The GBU-39/B, developed by Boeing Defence, is a 250-pound-class glide bomb guided by a GPS-aided inertial navigation system, boasting a CEP of under one meter. It features MBDA’s Diamond Back wing kit, extending its range to over 110 km, and carries a 93-kg penetrating warhead capable of piercing 90 cm of reinforced concrete, Caliber.Az reports, referring to foreign media.

First used by the US Air Force in Iraq in 2006, the SDB-I has since proven effective in low-collateral precision strikes. It is compatible with various platforms, including the F-15E, F-16, F-22, Gripen, AC-130W, and the F-35 Lightning II. Allied forces in Australia, Israel, South Korea, and Ukraine have employed it, with reports of up to 90% effectiveness in Ukraine’s contested airspace.

Its compact design allows four bombs per BRU-61/A rack, quadrupling payloads versus traditional munitions. This will benefit Poland’s upgraded F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and its incoming fleet of 32 F-35A jets, beginning delivery in 2026. Integration with these platforms will grant Poland extended-range, high-precision strike capability.

Costing roughly $40,000 per unit, the GBU-39/B offers a balance of performance and affordability. Compared to systems like Raytheon’s GBU-53/B StormBreaker (which adds multi-mode targeting at over $200,000 per unit), or Russia’s KAB-250 and China’s FT-7, the SDB-I remains an efficient choice for mass deployment.

Strategically, the acquisition reinforces Poland’s role as a frontline NATO state capable of precision airstrikes in key regions such as the Suwalki Gap and Kaliningrad. The pairing of stealth aircraft with long-range precision munitions enhances Poland’s deterrence and supports NATO’s evolving doctrine of distributed lethality and multi-domain operations.

Boeing, the prime contractor, is currently producing Lot 20 GBU-39/Bs, with deliveries expected into 2035. Previous foreign military sales include Morocco (500 units for $86 million) and Romania (400 units for $84 million), underscoring the munition’s global appeal.

This sale represents a major leap in Poland’s strike capabilities and positions it as a critical contributor to NATO’s forward defence strategy. The integration of SDB-Is with F-16V and F-35A platforms ensures a future-ready air force equipped for high-threat, precision warfare.

By Tamilla Hasanova