The US GLSDB smart glide bomb can be stealthy, spread effectively over a large area, complex flight trajectory and can perform many maneuvers that make it difficult for the enemy's air defense system.
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| American GLSDB smart glide bomb. (Source: AF.mil) |
The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) was developed by Boeing Defense Space and Security in partnership with the Swedish company Saab Group.
This weapon is composed of two classic weapon systems: the first is the small, high-precision glide bomb GBU-2 SDB; the second part is the M39 jet engine of the US military's HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. These two parts are joined together through a coupling.
The technical characteristics and combat capabilities of the GLSDB bomb are determined mainly through the parameters of the bomb itself. The GBU-39 SDB bomb is an air force bomb, developed in the early 2000s, specifically designed to be placed inside aircraft cabins equipped with stealth technology. This bomb is integrated with a control system and a navigation system.
Bomb body 1,8m long, fitted with wings, bomb diameter nearly 19cm. There are 39 types of GBU-3 SDB bombs: GBU-39/B steel-cored fragmentation bombs; GBU-39A/B uses micro fragmentation to attack the enemy; and fragmentation bombs equipped with GBU-39B/B laser guidance systems
GBU-39/B bombs are used to attack fixed targets such as: command posts, information stations, air defense systems, airfields, fuel depots, military units, artillery battlefields. When dealing with deep underground fortifications, solid infrastructure, buildings, factories, bridges, roads, trenches, mobile infantry and other large targets, GBU bombs -39/B is not effective. Notably, the GBU-39/B bomb can penetrate 1m thick concrete slab located at a depth of 1m underground.
In addition, this bomb is also equipped with GPS receiver, anti-interference module, inertia unit, programmed electronic fuse (detonation mode, contact, slow detonation), driving device in the part. tail, diamond-shaped bomb wing, warhead designed in a particularly hard steel shell.
Meanwhile, GBU-39 A/B FLM bombs are used for targeted attacks. The warhead of this type of bomb is made of composite material, the explosive is made of dense inert metal. As a result, GBU-39A/B FLM has high damage ability in a narrow range, so it can limit unnecessary losses to surrounding targets when conducting urban warfare.
The GBU-39 B/B bomb is equipped with a laser guidance system. With an external laser targeting device, GBU-39B/B can attack low-flying, slow-flying targets. The laser guidance system is activated when the bomb is 4,5km from the target, laser dots are captured when 3km from the target. Unlike the GBU-39/B bomb, the warhead of the GBU-39B/B bomb has a steel core.
All versions of the GBU-39 SDB bomb are part of the GLSBD small diameter ground-launched bomb system, which can use the launchers of the MLRS M270 multiple launch rocket system and the rocket launchers. Launch series HIMARS.
One of the advantages of these bombs is that they are stealthy, have an effective dispersion area of 0,016 square meters, have complex flight paths and can perform many maneuvers. These factors will cause 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 be shot down by enemy air defenses.
In general, the strengths of GBU bombs are low cost, complex flight trajectory, maneuverability, high accuracy, light weight bombs, so they can carry a large number.
The weakness of the GBU bomb is the limited damage radius of the warhead. For solid targets, the attack efficiency of GBU bombs is low. The operation of the GBU bomb can be disabled by the electronic warfare system.
