Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb
M270 MLRS
  • M142 HIMARS
  • Or can be launched from its own launch container
    • ReferencesJanes[7][8]

    The Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) is a weapon developed by

    M26 rocket, enabling it to be launched from ground-based missile systems such as the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System and M142 HIMARS.[9][10]

    The weapon started initial mass production in 2023 and saw its first combat deployment by Ukraine in 2024 during the Russian invasion of the country. The performance was reportedly disappointing due to Russia's electromagnetic warfare capabilities, along with deficiencies in tactics, techniques, and procedures.

    Design

    Boeing, in partnership with Saab, developed an "inter-stage adapter" to connect the SDB to an

    GMLRS, depending on the type[16] (16 kg (35 lb)[21] vs 23 kg (51 lb)[22]). While typical rockets from multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) follow a ballistic trajectory, the rocket-launched SDB can be launched to altitude and glide on a selected trajectory.[23][11] Twelve M26 rockets at a time can be launched from MLRS, six at a time from HIMARS.[24]

    Boeing and Saab Group conducted three successful GLSDB tests in February 2015. Unlike traditional artillery weapons, the GLSDB offers 360-degree coverage for high and low angles of attack, flying around terrain to hit targets on the back of mountains, or circling back around to a target behind the launch vehicle. The GLSDB has a range of 150 km (93 mi), or can hit targets 70 km (43 mi) behind the launch vehicle.[25][26] The weapon can be set to detonate above the ground or with a delay for deep penetration.[12]

    In a 2017 demonstration, the GLSDB engaged a moving target at a distance of 100 km (62 mi). The SDB and rocket motor separated at altitude and the bomb used a semi-active laser (SAL) seeker to track and engage the target.[27] The laser-guided SDB had previously been tested successfully using targets travelling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h).[28]

    The cost is undisclosed; however the SDB used in GLSDB has a cost to the U.S. military of about $40,000,

    ATACMS missiles,[34][35] which have a price per unit estimated to be well over $1 million.[36] The other long distance alternative is the 250 km (160 mi) Storm Shadow missiles,[37] each of which is estimated to cost around £2 million ($2.5 million,[38] fiscal year 2023). The U.K. has agreed to supply these to Ukraine.[39] The purpose in developing the weapons was to offer poorer countries the strike capacity of more expensive and advanced air forces.[24]

    Unlike conventional artillery that follows a predictable path from launch to destination, the wings and navigation ability of the GLSDB allow it to evade obstacles and anti-air defenses by steering around them, even approaching from the target’s rear.[40][11] Also, because the GLSDB is a glider it has little IR signature, making it a poor target for IR homing missiles such as MANPADS.[41]

    Use in combat

    On 3 February 2023, the United States government announced an aid package for Ukraine as part of assistance during the

    2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine that would include the GLSDB, which could be launched out of existing Ukraine-operated HIMARS or MLRS launchers (or out of its own launcher) to hit Russian targets that had been moved out of GMLRS range. The GLSDB almost doubles the range that Ukraine could previously target with these launchers (150 km (93 mi) vs 85 km (53 mi) with GMLRS).[42][17]

    The weapon entered "initial mass production stage" in 2023.[43] On 30 January 2024, Politico reported that the missiles could be deployed as soon as the following day.[44] On 14 February 2024, Russian media published footage on what looks to be a GLSDB tail wreckage, reportedly found near Kreminna, Luhansk Oblast.[45][46] On 26 March 2024, a GLSDB was used to strike a house, in Chernyanka, Kherson, where Russian UAV operators were based.[47] Ukrainian forces also destroyed a Russia 2S9 Nona 120 mm mortar and the “burning” of another in Zaporizhzhia.[48]

    In April 2024, a U.S. defense official remarked that the combat performance had been disappointing: due to Russian jamming and deficiencies in tactics, techniques, and procedures "it just didn't work". The War Zone wasn't certain that this was weapon system referred to.

    APKWS II or another undisclosed weapon system. The Under Secretary also noted that the production and testing of the weapon was "raced and (they) did it as fast as they could". He also referred to multiple reasons, including tactics, doctrine and "electromagnetic interference" as being issues.[49]

    Operators

    Current operators

    Potential operators

    References

    1. ^ a b c "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB)". Army Technology. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    2. ^ a b Shulgin, Dmitry (14 March 2015). "GLSDB". Modern weapons. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    3. ^ a b "Boeing Backgrounder" (PDF). Boeing. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    4. ^ Pike, John (14 May 2023). "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB)". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    5. ^ GALLET, Matthieu (30 December 2020). "Boeing GBU-39/B SDB". AviationsMilitaires.net (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
    6. ^ "Small Diameter Bomb". Boeing Canada. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
    7. ^ Hughes, Robin (14 October 2019), "AUSA 2019: Boeing, Saab conduct long-range GLSDB firing", Janes Missiles & Rockets, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 3 February 2023
    8. ^ Janes (3 February 2023), "M142 227 mm (6-round) High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)", Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, Coulsdon, Surrey: Jane's Group UK Limited., retrieved 3 February 2023
    9. ^ "Boeing, Saab Adapt Air Launched Small Bomb for Ground Launch". Boeing. 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    10. ^ a b Selinger, Marc (1 November 2022). "Saab expects first contract soon for new GLSDB artillery weapon". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    11. ^ a b c d "Boeing Developing Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb". Defense News. 22 October 2013. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
    12. ^ a b Newdick, Thomas (28 November 2022). "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb Would Double Ukraine's Precision Strike Range". The Drive. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    13. ^ a b Hoyle, Craig (16 June 2015). "PARIS: Boeing, Saab test ground-launched small diameter bomb". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
    14. ^ "Nammo and Nordic Shelter join GLSDB team". Shephard. 2 December 2021. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
    15. ^ a b Stone, Mike (28 November 2022). "Exclusive: 100-mile strike weapon weighed for Ukraine as arms makers wrestle with demand". Reuters. Archived from the original on 28 November 2022. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
    16. ^ a b c Korshak, Stefan (4 February 2023). "EXPLAINED: Ukraine to Get New Long-Range GLSDB Missiles – What Happens Next?". KyivPost. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
    17. ^ a b Colonel Joe Russo, CO 14 Marines (May 2018). "Long-Range Precision Fires" (PDF). Marine Corps Gazette: 40. Retrieved 8 April 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
    18. ^ "Cluster Munition Ban Policy - Reports". The Monitor. 24 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
    19. ^ Detsch, Jack (12 January 2023). "Pentagon Balks at Sending Ukraine Long-Range Bombs". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023.
    20. ^ Hardie, John; Bowman, Bradley (19 December 2022). "Send the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb to Ukraine". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
    21. ^ "Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb" (PDF). Boeing. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    22. ^ "Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) Unitary Warhead". General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. 14 October 2021. Archived from the original on 27 September 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
    23. ^ Skinner, Tony (24 May 2013). "Boeing furthers Ground-Launched SDB". Shephard Media. Archived from the original on 14 July 2013.
    24. ^ a b Axe, David (3 February 2023). "Ukraine's New Rocket-Boosted Glide-Bombs Can Turn Around And Hit Targets On The Backs Of Hills, 90 Miles Away". Forbes. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
    25. ^ Mehta, Aaron (10 March 2015). "Boeing, Saab Unveil Ground Launched SDB". Defensenews.com. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018.
    26. ^ "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) – Army Technology". Army Technology. 1 November 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023.
    27. ^ "Ground launched SDB jointly made by Saab and Boeing". Army Recognition. 13 June 2018. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023.
    28. ^ Weisgerber, Marcus (9 August 2012). "Boeing: Laser Small Diameter Bomb Could Fill Gap". Defense News. Archived from the original on 27 May 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
    29. ^ Trevithick, Joseph (18 February 2020). "Here Is What Each Of The Pentagon's Air-Launched Missiles And Bombs Actually Cost". The Drive. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    30. ^ Dyson, Tauren (27 September 2019). "Boeing awarded $280M contract for small diameter bomb integration". UPI. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    31. ^ "How Much GMLRS Missiles for HIMARS Cost: New Massive Contract with Finland Tells". Defense Express. 3 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    32. ^ Altman, Howard (27 July 2022). "Are There Enough Guided Rockets For HIMARS To Keep Up With Ukraine War Demand?". The Drive. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
    33. ^ Parsons, Dan (31 May 2022). "Ukraine To Get Guided Rockets, But Not Ones Able To Reach Far Into Russia (Updated)". The Drive. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    34. ^ "Ukraine to receive first GLSDB missiles no earlier than autumn – Pentagon". Yahoo! News. 22 June 2023. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
    35. ^ Gould, Joe (19 January 2023). "US still holds back long-range ATACMS missiles from Ukraine". Defense News. Archived from the original on 8 January 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
    36. ^ Cancian, Mark F. (31 May 2022). "Will the United States Provide Long-Range Rockets to Ukraine?". CSIS. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
    37. ^ "1 GBP to USD". British Pounds to US Dollars Exchange Rate. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
    38. ^ Sabbagh, Dan (9 May 2023). "British-led coalition hopes to supply longer-range missiles to Ukraine". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
    39. ^ "Factbox: U.S. rocket-powered bomb would double Ukraine's strike range". Reuters. 1 February 2023. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
    40. ^ "GLSDB, Perhaps a Low Cost, Containerized, Precision, Shore Bombardment and Anti-Ship Weapon / Maybe Taiwan Could Use It Too". Chuck Hill's CG Blog. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
    41. ^ Bickerton, James (3 February 2023). "U.S. giving Ukraine smart bombs to double strike range against Russia". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
    42. ^ a b Bisht, Inder Singh (30 March 2023). "Ukraine War Delayed Taiwan's 150-Kilometer Precision Bomb Purchase: Report". The Defense Post. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
    43. ^ Hudson, Lee; Seligman, Lara; McLeary, Paul (30 January 2024). "New US-made longer-range bomb expected to arrive as soon as Wednesday in Ukraine". Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
    44. ^ Serge Havrylets (15 February 2024). "Defense Express: Ukraine uses GLSDB for the first time in human history, shocks Russia". euromaidanpress. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
    45. ^ Thomas Newdick (14 February 2024). "Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb Makes Combat Debut In Ukraine". twz. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
    46. ^ "GLSDB hit the position of Russian UAV operators in the Kherson region". 26 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
    47. ^ "Ukraine forces use GLSDB precision guided bomb to destroy Russian 2S Nona-S mortar carriers". Army Recognition. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
    48. ^ Joseph Trivithick (25 April 2014). "Have Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs Been 'Thrown Aside' By Ukraine?". twz. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ground_Launched_Small_Diameter_Bomb&oldid=1223379755"