After restoring military aid to Ukraine, the United States is allegedly sending the long-range Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to the embattled country. The report comes as Kyiv pushes against an intensifying Russian onslaught in the Kursk region and Eastern Ukraine.
Citing two unidentified sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reported on March 14 that the United States is poised to start shipping long-range bombs called Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine again after upgrading them to better withstand Russian jamming.
According to the latest report, 19 GLSDBs were test-fired in recent weeks to analyse the effectiveness of the upgrades. One upgrade involved strengthening the weapon’s internal communication to increase its resilience. The report did not reveal the specifics of the alleged upgrades provided to the bomb.
Though not officially confirmed by the White House, the report follows the restoration of US military aid to Ukraine which was earlier suspended after a bitter spat between the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office.
The aid was restored after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia during recent talks held in Saudi Arabia.
The reported transfer of GLSDB comes days after reports indicated that the Ukrainian stockpiles of the long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)—one of Ukraine’s most effective long-range weapons—have been dwindling.
Some unidentified sources told the Associated Press that Ukraine only received fewer than 40 ATACMS, and all of them had been exhausted. ATACMS was the longest-range weapon (300 kilometers) delivered to Ukraine by the US.
Though there is no confirmation on whether Ukraine will be re-armed with more ATACMS missiles, improved GLSDB may now be headed to the battlefield. This would significantly bolster Ukraine’s combat capability at a time when a ceasefire may be around the corner and amid intensified Russian offensives in Kursk and the East Ukrainian region.
These glide bombs were acquired through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative during the previous administration of US President Joe Biden. Last year, the US inked a contract with Boeing to supply Ukraine with the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB).
Despite Boeing, the weapon’s manufacturer, praising its “highly jamming-resistant GPS” navigation system, the GLSDB bombs struggled to maintain accuracy due to Russian-employed countermeasures, as the EurAsian Times reported last summer.
In essence, Russian forces successfully jammed the weapon’s navigation, making it miss its target repeatedly. EurAsian Times has reported on Moscow’s cutting-edge Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities, including jamming and spoofing, which have rendered some of the best Ukrainian weapons ineffective.
For instance, the Russian military has used GPS spoofers to alter the bomb’s trajectory. The spoofers work by sending inaccurate position information to the GPS navigation systems. Due to the relatively weak nature of GPS signals, a more powerful false signal can override accurate inputs.
The new upgrades have been made to ensure that the bomb can withstand advanced Russian electronic warfare systems. However, EurAsian Times could not independently verify the claims regarding the GLSDB’s upgrade.
It is pertinent to note that there has been no report of the use of the weapon by the Ukrainians in recent months.
Long-Range Weapons Set For A Comeback
The Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) was first spotted on the Ukrainian battlefield in February 2024, marking the introduction of a powerful and long-sought long-range strike capability for Ukraine. It has since been used to attack high-value targets inside Russia, specifically its logistical hubs and weapons depots.
The GLSDB, developed in partnership with Boeing and Saab, combines the accuracy and affordability of tiny guided bombs with the versatility of ground launchers.
Fired from mobile artillery systems like the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, the weapon has reportedly proved to be effective in hitting Russian supply lines in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
The GLSDB, which was technically unveiled as a new weapon in 2023, combines two already-existing weapons: an M26 rocket and a precision-guided 250-pound aircraft bomb, both of which have been used independently for decades. Notably, Ukraine became the first-ever country in the world to use this lethal weapon in combat.
Upon launch, the rocket motor propels the munition, then disengages as the wings unfold, allowing the SDB to glide toward its target with precision aided by a GPS-aided inertial navigation system claimed to be accurate within one meter.
Notably, it compensates for its lack of speed over long distances with remarkable aerial mobility, enabling it to approach targets from various angles and directions and nullify potential defensive covers.
The weapon has a remarkable 150-kilometer operational range, great maneuverability, and a small payload with less than 20 kilograms of explosives. The GLSDB is capable of targeting strategic enemy targets in the rear at a much lower cost than an expensive missile. The bomb is priced at around US$40,000, which is relatively cheaper than missiles that cost millions of dollars.
Additionally, the manufacturer earlier stated that GLSDB has a sophisticated anti-jamming mechanism to thwart expected Russian electronic countermeasures. Though this may not have worked as well as previously envisioned, the new upgrades might cover for the shortcomings based on the lessons from the battlefield.
A Boeing spokesperson previously acknowledged the problem and stated that the company was “working closely with the [Defense Department] on spiral capability improvements to the ground-launch SDB system.” Spiral capability improvements refer to an iterative process of software development aimed at enhancing the weapon’s performance.
Since they were delivered, the GLSDBs have been lauded as a force multiplier for Ukrainian forces, as they allow them to hit Russian targets at a distance almost twice that of the HIMARS rockets. While these long-range bombs are not as powerful as the ATACMS, they present notable advantages—they are compact and simpler to deploy.
With the Russian President Vladimir Putin dragging his feet on agreeing to a ceasefire and his forces intensifying the assaults on Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces would likely benefit from a long-range weapon along with the drones that it has been tactically using to attack Moscow.
- Contact the author at sakshi.tiwari9555 (at) gmail.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
