Saab has teamed with Boeing to create a new battlefield precision strike weapon for low intensity operations; the Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). The new weapon was produced by marrying together two proven, in-service systems.
The new weapon consists of a 250 pound (110 kilogram) Boeing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) on the front of a Lockheed Martin M26 rocket. The M26 rocket was designed to be launched from the latter company’s M270A Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) which usually consists of two vehicle-mounted pods, each firing six rockets.
The new weapon will brings 360-degree coverage to the M270A which was previously limited to engaging targets directly in front of it. The GLSDB can be launched and then turn to attack targets on each side, or even behind, the launch vehicle. For example, it can fly over a mountain and then turn around to hit targets on the reverse slope, including targets within caves or emplacements. The GLSDB can hit targets 150 kilometres/km (93.2 miles) in front of the launcher, 115km (185km) on either side or 70km (43 miles) behind it.
by Jon Lake
