Finland has authorized the purchase of GBU-53 Small Diameter Bomb II glide bombs, known as SDB II, to equip the future F-35A fighters of the country’s Air Force. The decision was approved on June 18, 2026, by Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen and will be carried out by the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command.
The acquisition matters because it expands the air-to-ground strike capability of Finland’s F-35A fleet, strengthening the fifth-generation fighter’s weapons package. According to the official statement, the SDB II allows targets to be hit with precision from medium range, including moving targets and in difficult weather conditions — a capability that, according to the country’s F-35 project, the Finnish Air Force did not yet have.
Because it is a small-diameter bomb, the SDB II allows the fighter to carry several units at the same time, increasing mission flexibility without greatly compromising the aircraft’s configuration. Visually, what stands out is precisely the contrast between the compact bomb and the F-35, a fighter designed to operate with advanced sensors, low radar signature and integrated weapons.
Finland is in the process of modernizing its military aviation with the F-35A, selected under the HX program to replace its current fighter fleet. The new purchase complements an acquisition contract signed in 2023 under the Foreign Military Sales model, used in U.S. military sales to allied countries.
In addition to the glide bombs, the package includes technical documentation, manuals, spare parts, accessories, transportation, training, and support, maintenance and repair services provided by the manufacturer and supplier. The GBU-53 SDB II bombs are manufactured by Raytheon and had already received sales authorization from the United States Congress in the context of Finland’s F-35 acquisition program.
According to Henrik Elo, director of the F-35 project, the new weapons complete previous orders and bring a technically advanced capability to the aircraft’s weapons suite. Finland’s assessment is that the SDB II increases the F-35’s usefulness in integrated operations with other forces, especially in scenarios requiring precision against moving targets.
Source and images: Puolustusvoimien logistiikkalaitos
