"Scoring" the US GLSDB smart glide bomb

The US GLSDB smart glide bomb can be invisible, effectively dispersed over a large area, has a complex flight trajectory, and can perform many operations that make it difficult for the enemy's air defense system.

'Chấm điểm' bom lượn thông minh GLSDB phóng từ mặt đất của Mỹ

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

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) was developed by Boeing Defense Space and Security in cooperation with the Swedish company Saab Group.

This weapon is made up of two classic weapon systems: the first part is the small, high-precision glide bomb GBU-39 SDB; the second part is the M26 jet engine of the US military's HIMARS multiple launch rocket system. These two parts are combined together through a joint.

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 since the early 2000s, specially designed to be placed inside the cabin of aircraft equipped with stealth technology. This bomb is integrated with a control system and a guidance system.

The bomb body is 1.8m long, equipped with wings, and the bomb diameter is nearly 19cm. The GBU-39 SDB bomb has 3 types: the GBU-39/B steel core fragmentation bomb; the GBU-39A/B uses micro-fragments to attack the enemy; and the GBU-39B/B laser-guided fragmentation bomb.

The GBU-39/B bomb is used to attack fixed targets such as command posts, communication stations, air defense systems, airports, fuel depots, military units, and artillery positions. When having to fight against deep underground fortification systems, solid infrastructure, buildings, factories, bridges, trenches, mobile infantry, and other large targets, the GBU-39/B bomb is not effective. Notably, the GBU-39/B bomb can penetrate a 1m thick concrete slab located 1m deep underground.

In addition, this bomb is also equipped with GPS signal receiver, anti-jamming module, inertial unit, programmed electronic fuse (explosion mode, contact, delayed explosion), actuator in the tail, diamond-shaped bomb wings, warhead designed in a special hard steel shell.

Meanwhile, the GBU-39 A/B FLM bomb is used for targeted attacks. The warhead of this bomb is made of composite materials, and the explosive is made of dense inert metal. Thanks to that, the GBU-39A/B FLM has high lethality in a narrow range, so it can limit unnecessary losses to surrounding targets when conducting urban operations.

The GBU-39 B/B bomb is equipped with a laser guidance system. With an external laser target designator, the GBU-39B/B can attack low-flying, slow-flying targets. The laser guidance system is activated when the bomb is 4.5 km from the target, and the laser dots are captured when the target is 3 km away. 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 belong to the GLSBD ground-launched small diameter bomb system, they can use launchers of the M270 MLRS multiple launch rocket system and launchers of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.

One of the advantages of these bombs is that they are stealthy, their effective dispersal area is 0.016 square meters, they have complex flight trajectories and can perform many operations. 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 vulnerable to enemy air defenses.

In general, the strengths of GBU bombs are low cost, complex flight trajectory, maneuverability, high accuracy, and light weight, so they can be carried in large quantities.

The weakness of the GBU bomb is the limited lethal radius of the warhead. Against hardened targets, the attack efficiency of the GBU bomb is low. The operation of the GBU bomb can be disabled by electronic warfare systems.

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