SDB II Glide Bombs for Finnish Air Force F-35A Multirole Fighter Jets

On 18 June 2026, Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen authorised the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to purchase GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II) glide bombs from the United States. Glide bombs will be used in Finnish Air Force F-35A multirole fighters.

The Finnish Air Force F-35A fleet's air-to-ground weaponry will be supplemented with SDB II glide bombs. The diverse features of the glide bomb enable striking targets precisely at medium range, for example, moving targets in challenging weather conditions. Due to the small size of the glide bomb, the F-35 is able to carry several of them simultaneously.

- The precision-guided glide bombs now being procured will supplement our previous order as part of the F-35 weapon package. The SDB IIs are technologically advanced and will bring the F-35 armament the capability the Finnish Air Force did not previously have. The ability of the glide bomb to strike moving targets also in challenging weather conditions will allow using the F-35 effectively when contributing to Multi-Domain Operations across all defence branches, says the Director of the F-35 Programme, Colonel (ret.) Henrik Elo.

The United States Congress approved the sale of the Raytheon-manufactured GBU-53 SDB II glide bombs in connection with the HX Fighter Programme. The present supplementary purchase will supplement the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) procurement contract signed in 2023.

The purchase includes, in addition to glide bombs, manuals and documentation, spare parts and accessories, transport services as well as the manufacturer's and supplier's training, repair and support services in accordance with the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA).

For more information about the F-35 programme: The F-35 Programme - the Defence Forces

Further information: Colonel (Ret.) Henrik Elo, Director of the F-35 Programme, tel. +358 299 800 (switchboard).