Finland will arm its future F-35 fleet with GBU-53/B SDB II glide bombs, adding a new air-to-ground option to the country’s NATO strike package. The munition is built to engage moving targets at medium range and in poor weather, fitting Nordic operating conditions and expanding sortie utility beyond air defence.
The package also covers spares, documentation, transport, training, repair, and support services. Raytheon, part of RTX, supplies the weapon. With 64 F-35s already on order, Finland is widening the aircraft’s mission set before fleet entry into service.