Bombs instead of missiles

The United States plan to replace Atacams in Ukraine GLSDB shells. What is the difference and will this affect the front?

The media report that instead of the US ballistic missiles, the USA's ballistic missiles plans to supply the APU by the GLSDB controlled air bombs (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb - a small -based bomb of ground -based). What are the similarities and differences of these types of weapons?

Atacms are over

Two Reuters sources say that GLSDB bombs were purchased as part of one of the military assistance packages as the Joe Biden administration. Earlier, the American news agency Associated Press reported that all the long -range ATACMS ballistic missiles have ended in Ukraine. “On Wednesday, officials admitted that Kyiv no longer has a long -range ATACMS range,” wrote Associated Press. “According to the American official and the Ukrainian deputy in the defense committee, these missiles have ended in Ukraine.” According to the publication, in total, the United States provided Ukraine with less than 40 such missiles, and they came to an end in Ukraine at the end of January.

At the same time, according to Reuters, GLSDB bombs were modernized by manufacturers to counter the interference of Russian electronic warfare systems. The supply of bombs, according to the agency, can already occur “in the coming days”, since GLSDB reserves are already in warehouses in Europe. The exact number of ammunition provided is not indicated.

“Both types of weapons are launched from the Earth with the help of MLRS M270 or M142 Himars,” a military analyst, former SBU employee Ivan Stupak, tells “Novo-Europe”. - However, if ATACMS is a full -fledged ballistic missile with a combat part of about 225 kilograms, then GLSDB is an air bomb with an engine that carries less than 100 kilograms of explosives. Compare them - how to compare a serious jeep with micro -lining. If ATACMS can beat on targets at a distance of up to 300 kilometers, then GLSDB flies only 150 kilometers. True, the bomb has a satellite guidance system and can fly around in its path of obstacles and even go to the target from an unexpected side. At the same time, most of the ATACMS missiles supplied to Ukraine had a cassette modification.

They could cover a significant area. While GLSDB is carried by fragmentation-fluish combat units, which has not such a significant radius of defeat. ”

“GLSDB will be a weak replacement of ATACMS,” Military Researcher Kirill Mikhailov tells Novi-Europe. - After all, the ballistic missiles that were supplied to Ukraine had a cassette military unit, which carried hundreds of Sabbaths and could destroy a lot of enemy personnel. However, now only MLRS missiles for Himars remained from long -range high -precision weapons, which can affect Russian objects only at a distance of 60–70 kilometers. Therefore, GLSDB will take their niche. "

Three instead of one

“Ukraine also delivered ATACMS M39 missile modifications, a range of 160 kilometers. The allies provided little 300-kilometer atacms, ”a military expert, a colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, expresses his opinion, expresses his opinion, Roman Svitan. - Therefore, GLSDB, flying 150 kilometers, will be able to replace them to a large extent, but instead of one rocket you will have to send three bombs. But for the price it will still be more profitable. After all, a ballistic missile costs more than $ 1 million, and a small diameter bomb - 40 thousand dollars. And many thousands were made in the United States, with the help of which it launches, with the help of which it is launched. They should have already been directed for disposal when the idea arose to create a GLSDB air bomb launched from the ground. ”

Roman Svitan says that when launching from the MLRS, the missile accelerator accelerates to ultrasonic speed and throws a small diameter air bomb to a height of 10 kilometers, where the wings are revealed at the ammunition and it begins to plan towards the target.

According to Ivan Stupak, GLSDB bombs have already been used by the Ukrainian military, but showed their low efficiency due to the work of Russian electronic warfare systems. These problems were investigated by manufacturers - Boeing and Saab Group - and, according to the analyst, the bombs were finalized to increase interference protection. Ivan Stupak believes that in a few months the Russians will again learn to fight this type of bombs, and then they will again require replacement. But for some time GLSDB will be able to cause significant troubles of the Russian Federation.

“Ukraine today has several dozen launchers for GLSDB,” says Roman Svitan. “If the bombs brought to the mind will be delivered by thousands, as possible, they will play an important role at the front.”