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The GLSDB: An excellent long-range ground-attack option for Ukraine [1]

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Date: 2022-12-03

The Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) with a range of 150km

In other articles I’ve already mentioned the ATACMS missile (fired from HIMARS/M270 launchers) and the SOM cruise cruise (which Ukrainian Sukhoi and MiG aircraft would be able to carry). Ukraine would definitely benefit from having both missiles, especially to target large static targets in occupied Ukraine such as logistics bridges, airbases and subs & ships in port for example. ATACMS has a range of 300km and SOM has a range of 250+ km. Ukraine has been asking for ATACMS for months, but so far its requests have fallen on deaf ears.

I read the other day about the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) and it seems to me that it would be ideal for Ukraine.

The Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) was originally developed as an air-launched weapon (hence the word “bomb” in its name). It’s a so-called glide bomb, so shortly after being released by an aircraft, wings pop out from the weapon to increase its range as opposed to conventional bombs that immediately start falling to the ground because of gravity. Unlike a missile or rocket, the SDB doesn’t have any source of propulsion, it simply glides to its target.

The GLSDB on the other hand uses a rocket booster (which is the completely black section at the rear of the weapon in the image above). AIUI the booster drops away once it’s run out of fuel and then the SDB’s wings deploy. Using a booster as well as wings gives the GLSDB an impressive range of 150km, which exceeds that of a standard air-launched SDB (which doesn’t have a booster).

Ukraine is getting good results with rockets fired from HIMARS and M270 launchers, but they have a range of about 70-80km. The GLSDB though would mean that Ukraine could hit targets at about double that range, which would put many Russian targets in occupied Ukraine within range that are currently out of range, especially targets in and around Melitopol, Henichesk and Bilovodsk for example. It would also mean that Ukraine could use cheaper GLSDBs against certain targets where the HIMARS rockets would be overkill (and much more expensive).

Admittedly the GLSDB has a fairly small warhead, but it would still be capable of damaging or destroying a wide range of targets — there’s even a variant that can hit moving targets, so even mobile SAM and SHORAD systems wouldn’t necessarily be safe even if they attempt to “shoot and scoot”.

The beauty of the SDB is that it’s relatively cheap (by military standards), the booster is also relatively cheap and both are plentiful. Plus the GLSDB can be launched from HIMARS and M270 launchers that Ukraine already has.

The Pentagon is considering sending the GLSDB to Ukraine, but according to a Reuters article, it won’t be available before spring 2023. That seems ludicrous to me when both the SDB and the boosters already exist. Surely the timeframe can be shortened? Get factories working more shifts, cut red tape, do whatever is necessary to get this weapon to Ukraine as fast as possible.

You can read more about the GLSDB here: www.saab.com/...

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/12/3/2139869/-The-GLSDB-An-excellent-long-range-ground-attack-option-for-Ukraine

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