The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed a contract with Rheinmetall Italia SPA for the procurement of a batch of Mk82 bombs to enhance the Swedish Air Force’s air-to-ground strike capability. This acquisition, part of Sweden’s broader effort to modernize its arsenal, aims to increase its stock of precision munitions and improve interoperability with NATO forces. It represents another step in Sweden’s military integration within the Alliance and reflects its objective of adapting its aerial capabilities to current strategic requirements.
The Mk82 bomb is a 500-pound (227 kg) air-to-ground munition designed for versatile use. It features a steel casing filled with 87 to 89 kg of explosives such as Tritonal or Composition H6 and can be deployed in either unguided or guided configurations. It is compatible with GBU-12 Paveway II (laser-guided) and GBU-38 JDAM (GPS/INS-guided) kits, providing operational flexibility while minimizing collateral damage and increasing target accuracy. The standard variant generates a lethal radius of up to 2,400 m², while the pre-fragmented PFB-82 version extends this area to 19,200 m² through optimized fragmentation dispersion.