United States Enhances Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs for Ukraine (Video)

The United States is set to resume shipments of upgraded Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine after improvements were made to counter Russian electronic warfare interference. According to Reuters, the decision follows a series of recent tests assessing the effectiveness of the enhanced version of these precision guided munitions.

The GLSDB system, developed by Boeing and SAAB, combines a GBU 39/B Small Diameter Bomb with a rocket motor adapted from the M26 artillery rocket. It is designed for deployment using the HIMARS system and has a maximum range of 150 kilometres. These bombs are guided by a combination of global positioning and inertial navigation systems, enabling them to strike targets with high accuracy. However, last year, Ukrainian forces reported that Russian electronic warfare systems were disrupting the GLSDB’s ability to reach its intended targets. As a result, the use of these weapons was temporarily halted.

Over the past weeks, at least 19 test firings of the upgraded GLSDB have been conducted to verify improvements. Sources indicate that the upgraded bombs will soon be deployed on the battlefield in Ukraine, with stocks already positioned in Europe. The Ukrainian Defence Forces previously confirmed using GLSDBs at least three times in 2024, including an operation in March that successfully targeted a Russian drone command centre in the Kherson region.

Last year, the effectiveness of the GLSDB was compromised by Russian jamming, prompting Boeing and US defence officials to address these vulnerabilities. The newly upgraded GLSDBs are expected to overcome these challenges, restoring their value as a key precision strike weapon against Russian positions.