Well if they’re already operating them that’s one thing, but the kind of retrofits that had been mentioned, with internal sensors isn’t something that can be readily done. That’d require quite a bit of modifications, if the jets weren’t shipped that way from the factory.

Ok, sounds more reasonable, it takes more then glide speed to get trough the point defence of a Neustrashimy frigate, or worse.

Just out of curiosity, what do you imagine the glide speed of a GBU-39/40 to be, especially considering that they can glide >60nm from a subsonic launch.

Most people here are aviation fans. If they were army fans or more related to the army anyway, they would have abbandoned any hope that a 17 kg warhead produces only that small explosion.

Only an armoured vehicle could possibly survive a 17 kgr detonation at 8m.

Agreed. I’ve seen an SUV size vehicle blown 20-30′ and completely mangled, from ~17kg of explosives.

I’m commenting the film posted, specifically GBU-39.
The point is the second truck, 10-15m away, wasn’t even scratched and in case the shot misses into the ground (even better blast dampener), it’s very unlikely that the SAM’s missile, or radar (on top of a mast, or some other elevated element) will be sufficiently damaged to cease operation.

“Naked” soldiers are something else and one might easily get killed by pressure alone, even if missed by splinters.

Area bombing is still within medium/heavy JSOW’s domain and it’s much more likely be used in that role.

There are different types of warheads for SDBs though-

http://www.futurefirepower.com/small-diameter-bomb-gbu-39

Not only does the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb limit it’s size to only 250 lbs, it also can be fitted with different types of warheads, one of which is specially designed to limit the blast radius and shockwave of the explosion.

When going after a SAM site, that’s not necessarily in an area where collateral damage is an issue, a different warhead type could be chosen.

JSOWs will also be heavily utilized, as you said.

Which countries have been able to afford these integrated air defense networks consisting of overlapping redundant sensor and missile coverage, and close in systems to protect against ARMs/SDBs? Given an unlimited defense budget, one could certainly build up a pretty formidable defense, but I’m just not seeing any nation(to include Russia or China) having an impenetrable network though(especially considering the amount of land mass that they have to cover). You could have certain areas that are very heavily defended, but there aren’t enough missiles to cover every square inch.
I’m sure it’s probably occurred to you, that these challenges have also occurred to the USAF. That’s why it’s a very methodical process when taking out a air defense network, using a variety of systems, platforms, and weapons. I take modern SAMs very seriously, but I think that you seriously underestimate the challege of dealing with hundreds of stealthy strikers(that are networked) and munitions, while in a heavy jamming environment.

What’s ‘lawful access’?

Countries with resources which they wish to sell won’t prevent access. They need the things selling those resources can buy. Libya, Saudi Arabia, & the UAE. for example, would starve – & I don’t mean metaphorically – if they stopped selling oil.

The only countries which might, if they controlled a resource, seek to stop anyone else buying it, are consumers. China, India, Japan, W. Europe, etc.

Lawful access means that the country that has the resources is wanting to do trade with you. It was a competitive consumer that I was referring to, in terms of prohibiting access.

You also have to look at the huge improvements in situational awareness that the F-22 and F-35 will enjoy over an F-117, not to mention raw performance, and countermeasures.

WW, HARM has a warhead of 68kg and travels at average speed of over M1 and such a projectile had (immense) troubles destroying radars in ’99.
How does then a bomb flying 1/5th of that speed and having 17kg! warhead (GBU-39), will do better?

The SDB won’t be travelling at 1/5th the speed first of all, and the HARM’s warhead wasn’t the issue. Once the SAM site stopped emitting, there’s no telling how close the missiles were hitting. As for the blast effects of the SDB-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VplddV722wo

It has a 26 foot blast radius(so 5-8 meters would certainly fall inside that envelope).