JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) (02/05/91)
From: "Larry W. Jewell" <JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU> Re: CBU-15 used on Kuwaiti Oil Facilities To: JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU (Larry W. Jewell) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- I originally asked about "CBU-15"s used on the oil manifolds that were supplying the oil slick in the Gulf. When I got it straight I received the following information. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Data extracted from the Air Force Magazine, May 1990. The GBU-15 is essentially a 2000 lb. Mk-84 iron bomb fitted with cruciformwings and a guidance system. The target detecting device is carried on thefront of the warhead. The control module, with auto- pilot and data link, attaches to the rear. Two modes of attack are available. In direct attack,the weapon is locked on to the target before launch and flies a near line-of-site profile to impact. In indirect mode, the seeker can be locked on to the target after launch, or the WSO can "fly" the weapon manually to impact, using guidance updates provided through the data link. The GBU-15(V)1 is a TV guided variant; the GBU-15(V)2 is an imaging infrared (IIR) version. Note that the "GBU" stands for "Glide Bomb Unit", not "Guided" -- and it is not powered. There is a powered variant of this unit being developed called the AGM-130. By the way, the most common CBU (Cluster Bomb Unit) is the Rockeye. I don't remember its numerical designation. Gordon D. Wishon Air Force Institute of Technology gwishon@blackbird.afit.af.mil ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ************************************************************************ *An infallible method of conciliating a tiger is to allow oneself to * *be devoured. * *********************** Konrad Adenauer ******************************** Larry W. Jewell JEWELLLW@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU