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Staff Sgt. Dan Weaver pieces together a fuse for a guided bomb unit-12 June 16 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The team is responsible for building, maintaining and storing various munitions to support Operation Iraqi Freedom kinetic strikes. The fuse and its components detonate the munition and increase the force of the explosion; the GBU-12 can self-guide to a target pinpointed by a laser designator, which helps to minimize collateral damage resulting from detonation. Sergeant Weaver is a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems specialist deployed from Dover Air Force Base, Del. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Munitions systems specialists assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, build fuses for guided bomb unit-12s June 16. The team is responsible for building, maintaining and storing various munitions to support Operation Iraqi Freedom kinetic strikes. The GBU-12 can self-guide to a target pinpointed by a laser designator. Since January, F-16 Fighting Falcons flown by the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Group have engaged in more than 315 kinetic strikes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Airman 1st Class Richard Spurgeon connects a guided bomb unit-12 arming lanyard to a bomb body June 16 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The length of the lanyard is determined based upon on the aircraft it will be attached to. This lanyard controls the initiation timing according to the aircraft specifications; the GBU-12 can self-guide to a target pinpointed by a laser designator, which helps to minimize collateral damage resulting from detonation. Airman Spurgeon is a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems specialist deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Senior Airman Nathan Baker and Staff Sgt. Jose Landeros measure the length of a guided bomb unit-12 arming lanyard to a bomb body June 16 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. This measurement varies based on the aircraft to which the munition is attached. The GBU-12 is a laser-guided munition. The Airmen are part of the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems specialists team responsible for building, maintaining and storing various munitions to support Operation Iraqi Freedom kinetic strikes. Airman Baker is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah; Sergeant Landeros is deployed from Shaw AFB, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Staff Sgt. Russell Michels connects a guided bomb unit-12 arming lanyard to a bomb body June 16 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. This lanyard, which is connected directly into the aircraft, will initiate internal components and detonation timing according to the aircraft specifications. The GBU-12 is a laser-guided munition. Sergeant Michels is a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems specialist deployed from Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, Syracuse, NY. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Airman 1st Class Richard Spurgeon spray paints munition specifications on a guided bomb unit-12 June 16 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The pained code will tell weapons loaders the munition type and what components are contained in it. The GBU-12 can self-guide to a target pinpointed by a laser designator, which helps to minimize collateral damage resulting from detonation. Airman Spurgeon is a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions systems specialist deployed from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter)

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Published June 17, 2008

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Some assembly required

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Some assembly required

Some assembly required

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