HELSINKI — Finland’s defense ministry announced Thursday that the country intends to purchase GBU-53 SDB II glide bombs from the United States to arm its fleet of F-35 fighter jets.
The acquisition expands Finland’s air-to-ground combat capabilities and builds on the NATO member country’s existing $9.4 billion deal to purchase 64 F-35 aircraft from Lockheed Martin.
According to the defense ministry, the GBU-53 SDB II is a precision-guided weapon capable of hitting moving targets at medium range, even in poor weather. The bomb’s compact design allows an F-35 to carry several of them at once on a single aircraft.
Raytheon, which operates as a division of U.S. defense company RTX, will manufacture the munitions. The overall package also includes spare parts, technical documentation, transportation, training, and ongoing repair and support services.
Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen said the purchase gives Finland a new capability that strengthens the country’s defenses “in demanding conditions.”
