The Russian-Ukrainian conflict has been fought until now. Perhaps no one expected that a regional conflict that broke out in the 21st century would become the " World War II Wind" - the various artillery of the army have become the protagonist of the war! But you should know that with the current number of artillery and shells in Ukraine, it is impossible to spend a long time with Russia. After all, the foreign network now reports that Ukraine needs to consume thousands of shells a day, and Ukraine does not produce 155mm shells , NATO standard, and most of NATO member states have emptied their inventory, and even the United States can hardly afford it. Therefore, in order to ensure that Ukraine can maintain its firepower advantage and avoid the failure of counterattack due to "no bullets", the United States recently plans to provide Ukraine with a new rocket with a range of up to 150 kilometers - a small diameter bomb (GLSDB) launched on the ground. So, can this new ammunition help Ukraine maintain its counter-offensive advantage?
This new rocket is a combination of the current GBU-39 air-launched small-diameter bomb with the 227mm rocket M26 rocket engine. It can be launched by the M270 and M142 "Hymas" rocket launchers. After the bomb is launched, it will be powered by the M26 rocket engine in the rear during the initial boost/rise phase. After that, the folded wings on the small-diameter bomb in the front will open and enter the gliding state. Since this GBU-39 small-diameter bomb itself has an inertial navigation system and embedded GPS, its hit accuracy is similar to that of the M30/M31 rocket originally used by the M142 "Hymas", and can reach less than 3 meters. It also has strong anti-interference ability, which is of great effect on defending against Russian electronic warfare attacks.
GLSDB rocket has the ability to "detour strike"
This new rocket from Boeing is "storage" using ready-made weapon parts, but its actual performance is not bad, especially the range of 150 kilometers, which is far superior to the M31 rocket. Of course, the biggest feature of the GLSDB rocket is its changeable flight trajectory. According to Boeing , GLSDB rockets are different from ordinary rockets and artillery shells and do not use fixed ballistic strike targets, because the GBU-39 small-diameter bomb in the front has bullet wings that can glide far, so it has the ability to "detour strike", such as bypassing the hidden targets behind the attack from both sides of the obstacle; it can even carry out "head-on" and "rear-finish" strikes on a target at the same time, as well as hit moving targets, which is much more powerful than the M31 rockets used by the M142 "Hymas".
GLSDB rocket test
Although GLSDB rocket has so many new features, it is probably the range of up to 150 kilometers that the Ukrainian military values the most. After all, the maximum range of artillery and rockets in the Ukrainian army is less than 100 kilometers, and this is not enough to take the initiative in the face of the Russian army that has certain air superiority and has strong long-range strike capabilities. Therefore, the Ukrainian army has long asked the United States for a "army tactical missile system" with a range of up to 300 kilometers, but the United States has always been afraid that the Ukrainian army will use this tactical missile to strike targets in Russia, thereby escalating the war to a point where the United States cannot control. But when Russia began to focus on attacking the Ukrainian power grid to destroy the Ukrainian army's resistance base, the United States could not sit idly by. Therefore, this GLSDB rocket with a long range, high accuracy, small additional damage, and strong ability to invade solid fortifications has become the best choice for the United States' new round of aid to Ukraine.
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
M26 Rocket
GLSDB Rocket has so many advantages. It seems that the Ukrainian army will suffer a lot after obtaining it, but it now has two difficulties that are not easy to overcome: the mass production speed is unknown and the damage effect is weak. Although Boeing has tested the GLSDB rockets, proving that they are mature enough, and the US military and NATO allies have inventory of GBU-39 small-diameter bombs and M26 rocket engines, and it seems that they can be shipped out of the factory after simple splicing, Boeing evaluates that if it wants to mass-produce the GLSDB rockets on a large scale, it will require at least 6 parts suppliers to enter mass production at the same time and provide corresponding after-sales and transportation services. This will be difficult in the case of a raging epidemic in the United States and a shortage of qualified workers.Therefore, Boeing can only guarantee that it will provide Ukraine's "first batch" of GLSDB rockets next spring. As for when more follow-up ammunition will be provided to Ukraine, no one can tell now.
GLSDB rockets have better penetration ability
M31 rocket surface lethality
155mm shells cheapest
GLSDB rockets still require multiple parts matching combination
from the United States to Ukraine, the US ammunition database may have bottomed out. After all, even if the single GLSDB rocket is only 40,000 US dollars, it is cheaper than the M31 rocket with a capacity of $100,000, each, if the 155mm shells from the United States and allies are sufficient, they will definitely continue to provide Ukraine with such "iron lumps" with a unit price of only a few hundred dollars, and will not take the pains to "storage" the GLSDB rocket again. It can be imagined that under such circumstances, the ammunition production lines of the United States and allies will find it difficult to catch up with the consumption of the Ukrainian army. Of course, if the Ukrainian army is in a hurry to fight, the United States will not be able to control its ammunition consumption speed. It just doesn't know what the United States can provide after even the GLSDB rockets are fired.
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