U.S. to sell Israel Air Force new bunker-buster bombs

[bemildred]

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.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1020702.html

[seafan]

1. 9/11: US refuses to give Israel bombs, fearing Iran strike; 9/14: US WILL supply Israel

Just WHO is going to stop these Armageddonists????? And what is the truth?

What is the truth?? Have **the cooler heads** of Rice and Gates finally lost this battle? Are Bush/Cheney trying to rescue the imploding McCain-Palin ticket? That is VERY plausible.



US 'refuses to give Israel bombs' fearing Iran strike

September 11, 2008
AFP

JERUSALEM (AFP) — The United States has turned down an Israeli request for "bunker buster" bombs and mid-air refuelling planes for fear they could be used to attack Iran, the Haaretz newspaper said.

The US administration also refused to give permission for Israeli fighter jets to fly over Iraq -- the quickest route to Iran, it said.

.....

Military experts believe the GBU-28 "bunker busters" Israel had requested could be effective against Iran's underground uranium enrichment facility at Natanz in central Iran.

The GBU-28 is a 2.2-tonne, laser-guided, conventional munition equipped with a powerful warhead that can burrow through more than six metres (20 feet) of concrete and up to 30.5 metres (100 feet) of hard ground.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak said after a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last month that the United States "do not want, for the time being, any (military) action against Iran" but that Israel kept all options open.

While denying the requests for "bunker-buster" bombs and refuelling planes, the US administration has agreed to help reinforce Israel's defences.

An advanced US radar system is to be stationed in Israel which would double the 2,000-kilometre (1,250-mile) detection range of missiles launched from Iran. The system would be connected to an US early warning system, a senior defence official told AFP.

And from today:


U.S. to sell Israel Air Force new bunker-buster bombs

September 14, 2008
Haaretz

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.

.....

The U.S. has already supplied Israel with earlier versions of bunker busters. In 2005, the Pentagon authorized the sale of GBU-28 to Israel, in a move that commentators construed as a hinted threat aimed at Iran. Haaretz reported earlier this month that the U.S. was hesitant about selling Israel heavier busters.

The Pentagon's announcement also said that the U.S. would help upgrade the Israel Defense Forces' patriot anti-aircraft missiles - which Israel uses as part of its missile-interception array. Israel will also receive 28,000 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) tube launchers for land forces.

[backwoodsbob]

4. 2 different weapons

[bemildred]

5. This is probably about Hezbollah, not Iran. nt

[hack89]

11. Radically different bombs

the GBU-28 can penetrate 3 times further than the GBU-39 (20 vice 6 feet). The 39 can't reach deep underground bunkers like Iran has.

I think the US offered the 39s as a consolation prize.

[azurnoir]

13. different weapons however

Israel already has the GBU-28 we sold it to them in 2005

The bomb underwent critical testing in Nevada at the Tonopah Test Range, a major test facility for United States Department of Energy funded weapon programs. It proved capable of penetrating over 30 metres (100 ft) of earth or 6 metres (20 ft) of solid concrete.<3> The GBU-28 is unique in that the total development time from conception to the first drop test took only 12 weeks, and the weapon went into active service after only one test drop.<4>

The first foreign sale of the GBU-28 was the acquisition of 100 units by Israel, authorized in April 2005.<5> Delivery of the weapons was accelerated at the request of Israel in July 2006. According to Israeli Military sources, Hezbollah puts their rocket launchers in bunkers and fortifications underground. <6>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-28


kj * Length: 70.8 in (1.8 m).<4>
* Width: 7.5 in (19 cm).
* Weapon weight: 285 pounds (130 kg).
* Warhead: 206 lb (93 kg) penetrating, blast fragmentation.
o 50 lbs (23kg) of high explosive.<5>
* Warhead penetration:
o "six feet of reinforced concrete".
o "more than three feet (1 m) of steel-reinforced concrete".
* Fuze: Electronic safe and fire (ESAF) cockpit selectable functions, including air burst and delayed options.
* Guidance: SDB I - GPS/INS.
* Accuracy: 5-8 m circular error probable.
* Standoff maximum range: more than 60 nautical miles (110 km).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-39_Small_Diameter_Bomb

[bemildred]

14. Wikipedia has them.

GBU-28 is a 5000 bomb, GBU-39 is a 250 lb bomb, according to wiki.

[azurnoir]

15. Think we pasted each other up

in posting, decided to look it up myself and edited my post. However I think you are right about Hezballah.

These "new" bombs are not adequate for Iranian bunkers, but are more precise than older models, making them ideal for a "kinder, gentler" type of warfare:sarcasm:

[bemildred]

16. Ooooooh, that tickles ...

The new bombs seems to be newer and fancier, and the old bombs only have 630 lbs of HE, so the disparity might not be as much as one would think from the 5000 lb figure, but a "modified artillery tube" burrowing into your bunker can't be good either.

I remember reading a Scientific American (I think) article about these things a while back (maybe like 2002?) , which stated that once you make the tube too long it buckles, and that puts a limit on how far you can dig before setting off the HE. IIRC Dumbsfeldt was disappointed about that, but the physics was not on his side.

[cali]

2. was just about to post this

and I actually think it should be posted in GD. Not surprising, but still sickening.

[ladjf]

3. This is not a move to prevent terrorism. It's a move designed to

keep terrorism alive. We are not "second guessing Israel". We are authorizing their bombing of Iran, who is alleged to have 70 or 80 nuclear facilities.

Fellow Americans, unless something changes in the leadership of America, we are going to see the day
when other Countries, perhaps even former allies, will find it necessary to attack us militarily to stop our continued illegal acts of barbarianism.

[hack89]

12. The GBU-39 is not a deep penetrating bomb

unlike the GBU-28 Israel wanted, the 39 will not reach deeply buried Iranian facilities.

[cyberpj]

6. K&R

[Fireweed247]

7. Sell?

I thought we gave Israel whatever they want for free. I guess they will 'buy' them with money we gave them.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Shows you don't know much about the situation.

Perhaps you should learn more before commenting.

[LeftishBrit]

10. Nope

Israel gets aid with lots of strings attached, including an expectation, indeed requirement, that it will buy American weapons.

I am not a great enthusiast for the arms trade, including this example of it (that's putting it mildly); but it *is* a trade; Israel does not get 'whatever they want for free'.

[azurnoir]

9. Well of course we won't give Israel the bombs we'll sell them

and sounds as if the sale could kill two "birds" with one stone

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.

Israel also requested a 767 jet for refueling purposes and supposedly we said no to that too, so less munitions means less refueling or conversly I do not remember any mention of not selling Israel the jets or any mention of 727's or 747's

All of this along with the US's "who's your daddy" move with al Maliki being given say over whether or not Israel can use Iraqi airspace to attack Iran, it's a win-win for the right wing in both the US and Israel.