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U.S. To Sell Israel Air Force New Bunker-Buster Bombs
Haaretz ^ | September 14, 2008 | By Aluf Benn and Amos Harel

Posted on 09/14/2008 7:34:03 AM PDT by Fennie

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.

(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: armsbuildup; armstrade; bunker; bunkerbuster; bush; busters; congress; geopolitics; iran; iraq; islam; israel; mohammedanism; nuclear; pentagon; proliferation; wot
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To: Fennie

Cool deal and long overdue!

each bomb weighs 113 kilograms, its penetration capabilities equal those of a one ton bomb.


41 posted on 09/14/2008 10:49:16 AM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline—1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!)
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To: Fennie

woooohoooooo! yah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


42 posted on 09/14/2008 10:53:33 AM PDT by Ancient Drive
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To: The_Reader_David

“Diplomacy without arms is like a musical score without instruments.”

There.


43 posted on 09/14/2008 10:54:55 AM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Fennie

Thanks. This is great news. I was beginning to lose faith in Bush, but with this...........I wonder if he is listening to us?


44 posted on 09/14/2008 10:55:12 AM PDT by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: Fennie

45 posted on 09/14/2008 10:56:08 AM PDT by doug from upland (8 million views of HILLARY! UNCENSORED - put some ice on it, witch)
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To: Fennie
"What's that, Lassie? Timmy threw a GBU-39 in the Hidden Imam's well?"

"Oh dear, there's going to be cockroaches all over the place. Go bring him home and cleaned up for dinner, Lassie!"

46 posted on 09/14/2008 10:58:03 AM PDT by 4woodenboats (***NEVER FORGET*** - Our Marines, Sailors & Troops are still fighting and need our support***)
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To: tet68

Well, one thing I’m not is a good proofreader. Thanks for the correction.

Sheesh! Two cups of coffee, early afternoon, and I’m still not awake!


47 posted on 09/14/2008 11:02:35 AM PDT by The_Reader_David (For real change stop electing lawyers: Fighter-Pilot/Hockey-Mom '08.)
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To: 4woodenboats

LOL!


48 posted on 09/14/2008 11:03:03 AM PDT by ConservativeMan55 (Obama is the Democrats guy. They bought the ticket, now they must take the ride.)
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To: patton

GBU-28


49 posted on 09/14/2008 11:15:12 AM PDT by rahbert
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To: counterpunch

My guess would be around Thanksgiving.


50 posted on 09/14/2008 11:23:24 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache (No Obama, No Way, No How)
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To: Fennie

Whoo Hoo, how soon will they be able to take delivery?
The sooner the better!


51 posted on 09/14/2008 11:26:08 AM PDT by LayoutGuru2 (Know the difference between honoring diversity and honoring perversity? No? You must be a liberal!)
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To: Fennie

GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb I
http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-SDB.html


52 posted on 09/14/2008 11:29:03 AM PDT by LayoutGuru2 (Know the difference between honoring diversity and honoring perversity? No? You must be a liberal!)
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To: LayoutGuru2

Video: GBU-39/B Impact Aircraft Shelter
http://www.f-15estrikeeagle.com/weapons/gbu39/videos/gbu39_shelter.mpeg


53 posted on 09/14/2008 11:31:48 AM PDT by LayoutGuru2 (Know the difference between honoring diversity and honoring perversity? No? You must be a liberal!)
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To: grey_whiskers

It isn’t missing in the sense that it is in another county, it is missing in the sense that Iran has moved it to a factory/plant/etc. that they’ve kept hidden from the IAEA/International community.


54 posted on 09/14/2008 11:35:48 AM PDT by DrGunsforHands
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To: river rat

“These ‘smart bombs’ are the wrong tool for the job...

One fights fire with fire, nuclear with nuclear.....

Iran’s fascination with nuclear weapons can be resolved by delivering a few........before they do..”

Cool—someone more hawkish than me! Now I can call myself a moderate.


55 posted on 09/14/2008 11:40:05 AM PDT by rightwingcrazy
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To: Fennie
Yeah....and a 25% discount for DROP SHIPMENT....(on Iran)
56 posted on 09/14/2008 11:41:18 AM PDT by spokeshave (Obama wants to kill babies and raise taxes, Sarah wants to raise babies and kill taxes (also moose))
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To: burster

I dont think Israel has the aircraft capability to lug the deep penetrator type of weapon all the way to IRAN. They would need a B1 at least.


57 posted on 09/14/2008 12:01:00 PM PDT by valkyry1 (McCain/Palin 2008)
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To: valkyry1

correct - the munition for taking down a major underground site would be the 15 tonne Big BLU.

no IAF place can lift the thing - only B1 or B2.


58 posted on 09/14/2008 12:14:47 PM PDT by rahbert
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To: rahbert

place=plane


59 posted on 09/14/2008 12:15:33 PM PDT by rahbert
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To: My Favorite Headache

I’d be happier with Halloween.


60 posted on 09/14/2008 12:18:38 PM PDT by counterpunch (Country First)
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