There aren’t any obstacles to promoting Norway a complete of 600 glide bombs for his or her F-35A jets, the US State Division notified Congress on Wednesday. The entire worth of the contract is estimated at $293 million, and consists of the munitions in addition to upkeep and help.
The Protection Safety Cooperation Company (DSCA) despatched out the discover as required by US legislation. It specified that permission was required as a result of the federal government in Oslo elevated the request from the unique $18.9 million for 20 bombs to 580 further munitions.
The DSCA discover described the weapon because the GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AUR). Its producer, Raytheon, makes use of the identify ‘StormBreaker’.
In line with Raytheon, the bomb can use millimeter-wave radar, infrared and semi-active laser homing to information itself to the goal, and may even function in semi-autonomous mode. First getting into service in late 2020, it’s supposed to be used by the F-15 and F/A-18 fighter-bombers, in addition to the F-35s, although that required a software program replace in 2022.
Norway has acquired 37 F-35s of the 52 it has ordered from the US. Every airplane can carry as much as 24 StormBreaker bombs, eight internally and 16 on exterior wing mountings.
Oslo initially ordered 20 bombs in July 2022. It was unclear whether or not Raytheon has already produced the munitions, or how lengthy it might take to satisfy the order.
Along with the bombs themselves, the contract requires instructors that can train the Royal Norwegian Air Power find out how to load the weapons and interact in explosive ordnance disposal; varied help and upkeep gear, spare elements, consumables and equipment, in addition to help for restore, return, modification and upkeep.
The worth of the contract is a excessive estimate and the precise quantity is more likely to be decrease “if and when” the gross sales settlement is definitely concluded, in accordance with the DSCA discover.
