According to documents obtained by Reuters, Boeing agreed last fall to deliver the US Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) to Ukraine, with the earliest delivery date set for March to May. However, Politico reported in February that the first batch of bombs would not be delivered until late 2023.
A ground-launched small diameter bomb missile, or GLSDB. Photo: Saab
Ukraine now needs the GLSDB to use with the ATACMS launcher system that the US has sent, which has a range of nearly 160 km. This allows the Ukrainian military to strike targets at twice the distance of missiles fired from the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
According to Reuters, Boeing plans to deliver the GLSDB to the US by the end of December, after which the smart bomb will need to undergo several months of testing before being sent to Ukraine. The Pentagon also confirmed that it is expected to deliver the weapon in early 2024 due to the testing.
According to the Pentagon statement, because the contract to start production of the GLSDB was signed in March of this year, delivery was forced to take place by the end of the year. Production of the bomb requires materials provided by the government, so the start of the contract signing was delayed.
The GLSDB is manufactured by SAAB AB and Boeing of Sweden. The maximum range of this weapon can reach nearly 160 km thanks to the combination of an M26 rocket engine with a GBU-29 small diameter warhead. The bomb uses GPS signals, possesses anti-electronic jamming technology, works well in all weather conditions and is resistant to armored vehicles.
Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters)
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