The Government of Norway received approval from the State Department on June 28, 2023, for a potential Foreign Military Sale. The sale includes the acquisition of 600 Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB-II) and related equipment, totaling an estimated cost of $293 million.
Under the agreement, Norway has expressed interest in acquiring up to 580 GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bombs-Increment II (SDB-II) All-Up-Rounds (AURs). These will supplement an existing case, which had initially included 20 GBU-53/B SDB-II AURs valued at $18.9 million. The current amendment exceeds the notification thresholds, thus requiring a full notification of the entire case. Consequently, the total number of SDB-II AURs included in the notification is 600.
The package includes munitions support and equipment, software delivery and support, spare parts, consumables, accessories, repair and return support, modifications and maintenance support, transportation support, unclassified publications and technical documentation, personnel training equipment and support, studies and surveys, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other relevant logistical and program support.
The GBU-53/B StormBreaker, also known as the Small Diameter Bomb Increment II (SDB II), is an air-launched precision-guided glide bomb that has been developed and manufactured by Raytheon Company. The SDB II program is a joint interest initiative between the United States Air Force (USAF) and Navy, with the USAF serving as the lead service. “All Up Round” refers to a missile that is delivered as a fully assembled weapon, with the exception of components that can be quickly attached, such as wings and fins. In this state, the missile is ready for deployment and use without requiring additional major assembly or integration.