No CBU LGB version question

[Alexrey]

I was just wondering why you can get GPS and dumb CBUs, but you cannot get laser guided CBUs. Does it have to do with the violent "bang-bang" maneuvers that current LGB technology performs that would mess up accuracy due to CBU spin?

[159th_Viper]

GBU-2, GBU-3, GBU-5, GBU-6 and GBU-7......All laser-guided clusters. Afaik not in use anymore though - not necessary I would suppose if you have the GPS.

[Dejjvid]

The WCMD's aren't GPS guided. The use inertial navigation IIRC.

 

I've never heard about laser guided clusterbombs either. But I'm no munitions expert.

[asparagin]

I think you don't need the precision of laser-guidance when you throw a weapon that is designed to cover a large area. You don't drop a CBU to get a specific target, but you mostly drop it on a group of targets. CCRP is good enough.

More than this, you have the the CBU-97 where each skeet can detect a target. So laser guidance would be an exaggeration.

[CEPEGA]

More than this, you have the the CBU-97 where each skeet can detect a target.

 

The CBU-105 has this feature too as i know

[asparagin]

^^Yeah, because the 105 contains the same submunition as the 97.

 

Also, regarding the original question:

 

In general, for cluster munition, guidance of the submunition is more important then guidance of the bomb itself (to achieve maximal accuracy).

Of course if your bomb is 2km off course, no smart submunition will help you anymore..

Edited August 7, 2011 by asparagin