"Rating" the US GLSDB smart glide bomb.

The US GLSDB smart glide bomb is stealthy, effectively disperses over a wide area, has a complex flight trajectory, and can perform many maneuvers that make it difficult for the enemy's air defense system.

The US GLSDB smart glide bomb. (Source: AF.mil)

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is a small-diameter bomb developed by Boeing Defense Space and Security in collaboration with the Swedish company Saab Group.

This weapon is composed of two classic weapon systems: the first is the GBU-39 SDB, a small, high-precision glide bomb; the second is the M26 rocket engine from the US military's HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system. These two parts are combined via a coupling.

The technical characteristics and combat capabilities of the GBU-39 SDB bomb are determined primarily through the bomb's own parameters. The GBU-39 SDB is an air-launched bomb, developed in the early 2000s, specifically designed for deployment inside stealth aircraft. This bomb incorporates a control and guidance system.

The bomb body is 1.8m long, fitted with fins, and has a diameter of nearly 19cm. There are three types of GBU-39 SDB bombs: the GBU-39/B armor-piercing fragmentation bomb with a steel core; the GBU-39A/B, which uses micro-fragments to attack the enemy; and the GBU-39B/B, which is equipped with a laser guidance system.

The GBU-39/B bomb is used to attack fixed targets such as command centers, communication stations, air defense systems, airfields, fuel depots, military units, and artillery positions. It is ineffective against deep underground fortifications, fortified infrastructure, buildings, factories, bridges, trenches, moving infantry, and other large targets. Notably, the GBU-39/B can penetrate a 1-meter-thick concrete slab located 1 meter underground.

In addition, this type of bomb is equipped with a GPS receiver, an anti-jamming module, an inertial sensor, a programmable electronic fuse (detonation, contact, delayed detonation modes), a tail-end thruster, diamond-shaped fins, and a warhead housed in a specially hardened steel casing.

Meanwhile, the GBU-39 A/B FLM bomb is used for targeted attacks. Its warhead is made of composite material, and the explosive is a dense, inert metal. This gives the GBU-39A/B FLM high lethality within a narrow range, thus minimizing unnecessary damage to surrounding targets during urban warfare.

The GBU-39 B/B bomb is equipped with a laser guidance system. With its external laser target acquisition device, the GBU-39B/B can attack low-flying, slow-moving targets. The laser guidance system is activated when the bomb is 4.5 km from the target, and the laser dots are acquired when 3 km from the target. Unlike the GBU-39/B bomb, the warhead of the GBU-39B/B has a steel core.

All variants of the GBU-39 SDB bomb belong to the GLSBD (Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb System), and they can use launchers of the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) and the HIMARS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) launchers.

One of the advantages of these bombs is their stealth capability; their effective dispersal area is 0.016 square meters, they have complex flight trajectories, and they can perform multiple maneuvers. These factors will pose certain difficulties for the enemy's air defense system.

However, glide bombs also have disadvantages, such as slow flight speed, making them very easy to shoot down by enemy anti-aircraft defenses.

In general, the strengths of GBU bombs are their low cost, complex flight trajectories, maneuverability, high accuracy, and light weight, allowing them to be carried in large quantities.

The weakness of GBU bombs is the limited lethal radius of their warheads. They are ineffective against fortified targets. Furthermore, GBU bombs can be neutralized by electronic warfare systems.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cham-diem-bom-luon-thong-minh-glsdb-cu-a-my-236697.html