GBU-8
| GBU-8 | |
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| General Information | |
| Designation: | GBU-8 / B |
| Type: | guided glide bomb |
| Country of origin: | United States |
| Manufacturer: | Rockwell International |
| Development: | 1967-1969 |
| Commissioning: | 1969 |
| Working time: | 1969–1980 (USA) |
| Unit price: | approximately $ 17,000 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Combat weight: | 1027 kg (GBU-8) |
| Length: | 3630 mm (GBU-8) 3660 mm (GBU-9) |
| Diameter: | 460 mm (GBU-8) 635 mm (GBU-9) |
| Span: | 1120 mm (GBU-8) 1350 mm (GBU-9) |
| Drive: | no |
| Range: | approx. 7 - 20 km |
| Furnishing | |
| Warhead: | Mk.84 (GBU-8) Mk.118 (GBU-9) |
| Steering: | TV, IIR |
| Detonator: | Impact fuse |
| List of bombs by country of origin | |
The GBU-8 (Guided Bomb Unit) developed by the American armaments manufacturer Rockwell International is an electro-optically guided glide bomb . This was used by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War.
History and technology
The GBU-8 is a Mk.84 free-fall bomb, which was provided by Rockwell as part of the HOBOS program ( Ho ming Bo mb S ystem) with the KMU-353A TV aiming kit and wing surfaces in X configuration. This program was started during the Vietnam War , when there were bad experiences with free-fall bombs bombing heavily defended positions. Above all, the aim was to increase the accuracy of the target, but to a certain extent also the range of normal free-fall bombs, and to do so inexpensively. In addition to the electro-optical system on the nose of the GBU-8, it is also equipped with a Range Extension System (RES). This consists of elongated wings that run along the bomb body, as well as 4 large and square tail fins. All wings are attached in an X-shape. The wings increase the range of the GBU-8 to 7 to 20 kilometers, depending on the drop height and speed.
But during the deployment in the Vietnam War , you very quickly got to know the limits of the GBU-8. This was mainly due to the electro-optical target system. Since this system was still new and worked with contrasts , there were very great problems with the acquisition of targets during twilight, as in cloud-covered valleys. At the end of the 1970s, the target system was revised again. But the targeting problems improved only minimally.
The GBU-8 / B is the official name in the US armed forces, but there are also a number of different other designations including Mk.84 HOBOS, EOGB-1 (Electro Optical Gride Bomb 1), Mk.84 + KMU 353 .
The GBU-9 is structured like the GBU-8. Instead of a Mk.84, it uses a Mk.118 free-fall bomb. Since this has a larger circumference, the wing surfaces had to be adapted.
The GBU-20 was intended to be the successor to the GBU-8 or -9, but it never got beyond the prototype stage. With her, the range was to be increased by attaching folding wings, similar to the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon .
In fact, the GBU-15 , which is still in use today, developed into the successor to the GBU-8. At the same time as the GBU-8, the Pave Strike Program ( GBU-1 ) was launched, from which the modern laser-guided glide bombs emerged.
Countries of operation
Over 4000 conversion kits for the Mk.84 and Mk.118 from Rockwell were built. Most of those that remained in the US and around 700-800 were used during the Vietnam War. To a limited extent, they were also exported.
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Greece
The Greek Air Force received 96 GBU-8s. They are used on the F-4E / E AUP and with the F-16C / D.
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Israel
The Israeli Air Force received around 100 GBU-8s from the USA in the early 1970s. It was used on the F-4E Phantom and Kfir and was deployed during the Yom Kippur and Lebanon Wars. In 1991 all remaining GBU-8 were retired.
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United States
The GBU-8 was used by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War and was retired around 1980.
Carrier platforms used
- McDonnell F-4 Phantom II only F-4E and D
- Fairchild-Republic A-10
- McDonnell Douglas F-15
- General Dynamics F-16
- General Dynamics F-111 only from 1976
- IAI Kfir
- Vought A-7 D Corsair II