TYNDALL AFB, Fla. –
In another Raptor first, Langley munitions crews loaded the new GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb onto an operational F-22A Raptor July 15.
The fit test, conducted by members of the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and observed by experts from Lockheed, Boeing, Edwards AFB, Calif., and Eglin AFB, Fla., was the first time the new weapon had been loaded into a combat-ready Raptor, said Chief Master Sgt. Jim Barnes, 27th AMU NCOIC.
“It’s one of the first steps,” he said. “Soon we’ll be flying it.”
Although fit tests have been done on early-model F-22s, minute differences in later, combat-coded Raptors could have affected the way the bomb was loaded and had to be checked.
“It only makes sense to check them on an aircraft that’s combat-ready,” said Master Sgt. Jim Hornbeck, 94th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Weapons Flight chief. “Bringing the Small Diameter Bomb online is going to impact everything, including the way they prepare and fly the mission.”
Weighing in at 250 lbs and a diameter of only six inches, the advantage of the GBU-39 is the amount that can be loaded into an F-22.
“It increases the target capabilities of the F-22 by 400 percent. Instead of two JDAMs, we’ll carry eight SDBs,” Sergeant Hornbeck said. “Pilots will be able to take out eight targets and still fight air-to-air. Total air dominance.”
Sergeant Barnes said the test went even better than expected.
“The first actual loading of the four-bomb carriage only took about 12 minutes, an exceptional time considering that it had never been loaded before,” he said. “Once the four-bomb carriage was loaded in the left weapons bay, the crews downloaded and reloaded each of the four bombs, one at a time. Then the entire process was repeated in the right weapons bay.
“Our load crew’s skill and professionalism while working with the Lockheed and Boeing engineers was nothing short of exceptional,” Sergeant Barnes continued.
Although this was the first loading, members of the 27th and 94th AMUs have been prepared for a long time.
“We’ve had technical orders for it,” Sergeant Hornbeck said. “We get the first look since Langley will be the first ones flying it.”