F-16AM with GBU-39 Ukrainian Air Force

In August 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force received its first F-16 multirole fighters. By the winter of 2025, reports confirmed that the aircraft were also being used for strikes against ground targets. For these missions, Ukrainian F-16s employ various types of weapons, including GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. The GBU-39 has been in service with the U.S. Air Force since 2006. Weighing about 110 kg and measuring 1.8 metres long, the bomb features folding wings that deploy after release. Once separated from the aircraft, the wings unfold and the bomb assumes its normal flight position.

The GBU-39 can be programmed during a combat mission, allowing the pilot to enter target coordinates and select the required fuze mode. Under favourable conditions, it can reach targets at distances of up to 110 km. Ukrainian F-16s can also carry AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pods on the centreline station beneath the fuselage. These pods are designed to detect emissions from hostile radar systems and generate electronic interference to disrupt their operation.