GBU-15

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GBU-15


The EGBU-15

General Information
Designation: Guided Bomb Unit - 15
Type: optically guided glide bomb
Country of origin: United States
Manufacturer: Rockwell International
Development: 1973
Commissioning: 1977
Working time: til today
Unit price: $ 274,354 (procurement), $ 195,000 (cost of production)
Technical specifications
Combat weight: 1140 kg (2500 pounds )
Length: 3940 mm (12 ft , 10.5 in )
Diameter: 460 mm (18 in)
Span: 1500 mm (4 ft, 11 in)
Range: more than 5 nm
Furnishing
Warhead: 424 kg (934 lbs.) Tritonal (equivalent to Mark-84); 243 kg (535 lbs.) Tritonal in the variant with BLU explosive device
Steering: optoelectronic TV system
Detonator: FMU-124A / B
Weapon platforms: MDD F-4E "Phantom II"
MDD F-15E / S "Strike Eagle"
GD F-16C / D
GD F-111C / F
Boeing B-52D "Stratofortress"
List of bombs by country of origin

The GBU-15 is a glide bomb the United States with television or infrared seeker , which has been used for the 1977th

development

From the GBU-8 HOBOS, Rockwell developed the GBU-15 due to the deficits of the GBU-8 in target acquisition. In 1973, the Air Force Development Test Center ( Eglin Air Force Base ) began development of the GBU-15, an originally TV-guided glide bomb . The two pairs of wings (front, rear) are arranged in an X-shape. While the rear and larger wings have a positive arrow, the front have a negative arrow. The glide bomb is equipped with a two-way communication system. This means that a target can still be assigned to it after it has been dropped and recordings of the target can be transmitted up to the point of the bomb.

Versions

The GBU-15 was built in the three versions GBU-15 (V) 1 / B, GBU-15 (V) 2 / B and EGBU-15 until it was replaced by the AGM-130.

GBU-15 (V) 1 / B

Dropping a GBU-15 (V) 1 / B with the original wing configuration

The GBU-15 (V) 1 / B entered service with the Israeli Air Force in 1977. It was equipped with a TV seeker head and allowed a choice between a Mk-84 or a BLU-109 warhead. The GBU-15 was used, among other things, during Operation Desert Storm . All 71 GBUs deployed there were dropped by F-111F .

GBU-15 (V) 2 / B

The GBU-15 (V) 2 / B is a variant of the GBU equipped with an IR seeker head. Otherwise it is identical to the original. She entered service with the Air Force in 1985.

In total, over 2823 GBU-15 (V) 1 / B and 2 / B were manufactured.

EGBU-15

In 1999 the Air Force decided to further improve the GBU-15. The glide bomb should be equipped with GPS / INS . The Raytheon company was commissioned with the development of these modifications and the series production. The entire order for the conversion of 1500 GBU-15 to EGBU-15 (Enhanced GBU-15) is valued at approximately 57 million US dollars. The exterior of the EGBU-15 is distinguished by the front trapezoidal and rear square wings. Furthermore, the EGBU-15 / A is equipped with the ITAG (Inertial Terrain-Aided Guidance). This is an inertial navigation system coupled to a radar altimeter that compares the contour lines of the terrain with a stored map. It should enable the EGBU-15 / A to have a CEP of three meters.

Further development

The AGM-130 air-to-surface missile was derived from the GBU-15 (V) 21 / B glide bomb . This is largely identical, but also has a rocket motor, which increases the range to 60 km.

Users

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h GBU-15. In: Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved March 26, 2010 (English).