The U.S. military has used Iraq to test a precision bomb designed for targets in urban areas and producing minimal collateral damage.
The U.S. Air Force has conducted the first successful drop of a GBU-38
bomb in combat during a recent mission in Iraq. The bombs were deployed on
two F-16 multi-role fighters, which performed a simultaneous GBU-38 release
on the same target in central Iraq.
Officials said the 500-pound bombs precisely hit a two-story building
occupied by the Tawhid and Jihad group in Faluja with minimal collateral
damage. They said this was the first time a GBU-38 was deployed in a
demonstration of a smaller munition meant to reduce collateral damage in
urban areas, Middle East Newsline reported.
"This was the right weapon for the job," the lead pilot who carried out
the mission, identified only as Lt. Col. Mitch, said. "If we used any bigger
of a bomb, we would have caused unnecessary damage."
Officials said the GBU-38 provides the U.S. military with a smaller
precision weapon for use against urban targets. They said the bomb, which
could be deployed on the F-16, would allow for precision strikes at night.
The GBU-38 is composed of an MK-82 with the Joint Direct Attack
Munitions guidance system. Officials said the GBU-38 was regarded as much
lighter and easier to assemble than most of the other munitions loaded on
F-16s. The GBU-38 was said to be significantly smaller and lighter than the
GBU-12 and the GBU-31.
"This is a relatively easy bomb to drop," Mitch said. "We simply set the
coordinates and deliver the bomb. There's a slight shake in the jet as the
bomb is released because [of] the sudden weight reduction, which happens
after every drop."
The bomb has been sought by Middle East allies.
