The United States will sell Belgium small diameter Bomb-Increment II missiles for the newly acquired F-35

The US Department of State has approved the sale of small-diameter Bomb-Increment II (SDB-II) missiles to Belgium.

Here's What We Know

Belgium has ordered a total of 196 SDB-II systems, as well as training, maintenance and logistical support worth approximately $115 million. Brussels intends to arm its newly acquired fleet of 34 F-35s with these weapons.

"The proposed sale will improve Belgium's ability to meet current and future threats by keeping its F-35 fleet operational and providing a credible deterrent to regional threats," the Defence Security Agency said in a press release.

Flashback

The GBU-53/B StormBreaker, SDB-II is an air-to-ground guided missile with three-mode homing: millimetre wave, infrared and semi-active laser. All this is required to hunt moving and stationary targets in adverse weather. StormBreaker uses a global positioning system/inertial navigation system. The missile also has a strike range of 72 km.

Source: DSCA