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CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon

January 01, 1970

The CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon is a United States Air Force 1,000-pound (450 kg)-class freefall Cluster Bomb Unit. It was developed and produced by Textron Defense Systems. A CBU-97 used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit is converted to a precision-guided weapon, and the combination is designated CBU-105.[1]

A CBU-105 munition is loaded to a B-52H Stratofortress

Overview edit

The CBU-97 consists of an SUU-66/B tactical munition dispenser that contains 10 BLU-108 submunitions. Each submunition contains four hockey-puck-shaped sensor-fused projectiles called Skeets. These detect target vehicles, such as tanks, armored personnel carriers, trucks and other support vehicles, and fire an explosively-formed penetrator downwards at them.[citation needed]

Operation edit

 

The 40 Skeets scan an area of 1,500 by 500 feet (460 m × 150 m) using infrared and laser sensors, seeking targets by pattern-matching. When a Skeet finds a target it fires an explosively-formed penetrator to destroy it. If a Skeet fails to find a target, it self-destructs 50 feet (15 m) above the ground; if this fails, a back-up timer disables the Skeet. These features are intended to avoid later civilian casualties from unexploded munitions, and result in an unexploded-ordnance rate of less than 1%.

As the CBU-97 approaches its designated aim-point, the dispenser skin is severed into three panels by an explosive cutting charge. The slipstream peels away these panels, exposing the 10 BLU-108 submunitions. An airbag ejects the forward five submunitions, then five in the aft bay. Following a preset timeline, the submunitions deploy parachutes so that they are spaced about 100 feet (30 m) apart. Then each submunition releases its chute, fires a rocket motor that stops its descent and spins it on its longitudinal axis, and releases Skeets 90 degrees apart, in pairs. Each spinning Skeet makes a coning motion that allows it to scan a circular area on the ground.

The laser sensor detects changes in apparent terrain height such as the contour of a vehicle. At the same time, infrared sensors detect heat signatures, such as those emitted by the engine of a vehicle. When the combination of height contours and heat signatures indicative of a target are detected, the Skeet detonates, firing an explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) down into the target at high speed, sufficient to penetrate armor plating and destroy what is protected by it. Even well-armored vehicles such as main battle tanks, while having massive armor protection on the front and sides, are only lightly armored above,[2] and relatively easily penetrated. Each bomb can spread penetrators over an area of 15 acres (61,000 square metres) or more. According to an ABC News consultant, an attack by this bomb would effectively stop an armored convoy moving down a road. While the bomb was designed during the Cold War for fighter-bombers flying at low altitude below radar cover to attack Soviet tanks, a single B-52 high altitude heavy bomber can destroy an entire armored division with these bombs, where in the past dozens of aircraft would have had to drop hundreds of bombs for the same effect.[3]

The CBU-97, or CBU-105 version, is deployed by tactical aircraft from altitudes of 200 to 20,000 feet (60 to 6,100 m) Above Ground Level (AGL) at speeds of 250 to 650 knots (460 to 1,200 km/h).[4]

History edit

The weapon has been in production since 1992 and it was first deployed, but not used, during Operation Allied Force when NATO entered the Kosovo War. Sensor-fused weapons were first fired in combat during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[citation needed]

In 2010 the US government announced the sale to India of 512 CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapons.[2] The expected platform is the SEPECAT Jaguar.[5]

Saudi Arabia has also requested the CBU-105.[6] In May 2015, Human Rights Watch reported on, and criticized, the Saudi use of the CBU-105 SFW during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.[7][8]

The United States last bought SFWs in 2007, after which it continued to be produced for export. In September 2016, Textron announced it would no longer produce the weapon, citing low demand as well as international controversy over the use of cluster munitions.[9]

Operators edit

In addition to the United States, the CBU-105 has been ordered by India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.[10]

General characteristics edit

Per globalsecurity.org:[4]

  • Type: Freefall bomb
  • Weight: 927 pounds (420 kg)
  • Name: CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW)
  • Length: 92 inches (234 cm)
  • Diameter: 15.6 inches (40 cm)
  • Dispenser: SW-65 tactical dispenser
  • Bomblets: 10 × BLU-108/B
  • Warhead: Armour Piercing
  • Unit Cost: $360,000 - baseline [$ FY90]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Lockheed Martin WCMD". www.designation-systems.net. from the original on 2011-08-06. Retrieved 2006-09-12.
  2. ^ a b ABC: United States announced the sale to India-based 521 CBU-105 cluster bombs, 2011-08-30 2012-07-24 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Targeting Tanks with Smart Cluster Bombs". ABC News. 7 January 2006. from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b Pike, John. "CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon - Dumb Bombs". www.globalsecurity.org. from the original on 2006-08-22. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
  5. ^ Hoyle2011-02-10T06:00:00+00:00, Craig. "AERO INDIA: Textron launches production of CBU-105 sensor fuzed weapon for India". Flight Global. Retrieved 2023-02-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Hoyle, Craig. "" 2012-07-29 at the Wayback Machine Flight Magazine. June 15, 2011.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  8. ^ Shelbayah, Ben Brumfield,Slma (2015-05-03). "Report: Saudi Arabia used U.S.-supplied cluster bombs in Yemen". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Why the last U.S. company making cluster bombs won’t produce them anymore. The Washington Post. 2 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Air Weapons: Hockey Pucks From Hell". strategypage.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22.

External links edit

  • Federation of American Scientists article about SFW's 2016-07-29 at the Wayback Machine
  • GlobalSecurity.org: CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
  • GlobalSecurity.org: CBU-105 Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD)
  • GlobalSecurity.org: BLU-108/B Submunition
  • Animated Video of SFW Deployment
  • Live exercise / Field test of CBU-97

January 01, 1970
sensor, fuzed, weapon, united, states, force, pound, class, freefall, cluster, bomb, unit, developed, produced, textron, defense, systems, used, conjunction, with, wind, corrected, munitions, dispenser, guidance, tail, converted, precision, guided, weapon, com. The CBU 97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon is a United States Air Force 1 000 pound 450 kg class freefall Cluster Bomb Unit It was developed and produced by Textron Defense Systems A CBU 97 used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit is converted to a precision guided weapon and the combination is designated CBU 105 1 A CBU 105 munition is loaded to a B 52H Stratofortress Contents 1 Overview 2 Operation 3 History 4 Operators 5 General characteristics 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksOverview editThe CBU 97 consists of an SUU 66 B tactical munition dispenser that contains 10 BLU 108 submunitions Each submunition contains four hockey puck shaped sensor fused projectiles called Skeets These detect target vehicles such as tanks armored personnel carriers trucks and other support vehicles and fire an explosively formed penetrator downwards at them citation needed Operation edit nbsp The 40 Skeets scan an area of 1 500 by 500 feet 460 m 150 m using infrared and laser sensors seeking targets by pattern matching When a Skeet finds a target it fires an explosively formed penetrator to destroy it If a Skeet fails to find a target it self destructs 50 feet 15 m above the ground if this fails a back up timer disables the Skeet These features are intended to avoid later civilian casualties from unexploded munitions and result in an unexploded ordnance rate of less than 1 As the CBU 97 approaches its designated aim point the dispenser skin is severed into three panels by an explosive cutting charge The slipstream peels away these panels exposing the 10 BLU 108 submunitions An airbag ejects the forward five submunitions then five in the aft bay Following a preset timeline the submunitions deploy parachutes so that they are spaced about 100 feet 30 m apart Then each submunition releases its chute fires a rocket motor that stops its descent and spins it on its longitudinal axis and releases Skeets 90 degrees apart in pairs Each spinning Skeet makes a coning motion that allows it to scan a circular area on the ground The laser sensor detects changes in apparent terrain height such as the contour of a vehicle At the same time infrared sensors detect heat signatures such as those emitted by the engine of a vehicle When the combination of height contours and heat signatures indicative of a target are detected the Skeet detonates firing an explosively formed penetrator EFP down into the target at high speed sufficient to penetrate armor plating and destroy what is protected by it Even well armored vehicles such as main battle tanks while having massive armor protection on the front and sides are only lightly armored above 2 and relatively easily penetrated Each bomb can spread penetrators over an area of 15 acres 61 000 square metres or more According to an ABC News consultant an attack by this bomb would effectively stop an armored convoy moving down a road While the bomb was designed during the Cold War for fighter bombers flying at low altitude below radar cover to attack Soviet tanks a single B 52 high altitude heavy bomber can destroy an entire armored division with these bombs where in the past dozens of aircraft would have had to drop hundreds of bombs for the same effect 3 The CBU 97 or CBU 105 version is deployed by tactical aircraft from altitudes of 200 to 20 000 feet 60 to 6 100 m Above Ground Level AGL at speeds of 250 to 650 knots 460 to 1 200 km h 4 History editThe weapon has been in production since 1992 and it was first deployed but not used during Operation Allied Force when NATO entered the Kosovo War Sensor fused weapons were first fired in combat during the 2003 invasion of Iraq citation needed In 2010 the US government announced the sale to India of 512 CBU 105 Sensor Fuzed Weapons 2 The expected platform is the SEPECAT Jaguar 5 Saudi Arabia has also requested the CBU 105 6 In May 2015 Human Rights Watch reported on and criticized the Saudi use of the CBU 105 SFW during the Saudi Arabian led intervention in Yemen 7 8 The United States last bought SFWs in 2007 after which it continued to be produced for export In September 2016 Textron announced it would no longer produce the weapon citing low demand as well as international controversy over the use of cluster munitions 9 Operators editIn addition to the United States the CBU 105 has been ordered by India Oman Saudi Arabia South Korea Turkey and the United Arab Emirates 10 General characteristics editPer globalsecurity org 4 Type Freefall bomb Weight 927 pounds 420 kg Name CBU 97 Sensor Fused Weapon SFW Length 92 inches 234 cm Diameter 15 6 inches 40 cm Dispenser SW 65 tactical dispenser Bomblets 10 BLU 108 B Warhead Armour Piercing Unit Cost 360 000 baseline FY90 See also editCBU 107 Passive Attack Weapon WCMD guided bomb which drops non explosive metal rodsReferences edit Lockheed Martin WCMD www designation systems net Archived from the original on 2011 08 06 Retrieved 2006 09 12 a b ABC United States announced the sale to India based 521 CBU 105 cluster bombs 2011 08 30 Archived 2012 07 24 at the Wayback Machine Targeting Tanks with Smart Cluster Bombs ABC News 7 January 2006 Archived from the original on 11 April 2018 Retrieved 10 April 2018 a b Pike John CBU 97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon Dumb Bombs www globalsecurity org Archived from the original on 2006 08 22 Retrieved 2006 09 27 Hoyle2011 02 10T06 00 00 00 00 Craig AERO INDIA Textron launches production of CBU 105 sensor fuzed weapon for India Flight Global Retrieved 2023 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link Hoyle Craig Archived 2012 07 29 at the Wayback Machine Flight Magazine June 15 2011 Kampf gegen Huthi Rebellen Arabische Bodentruppen im Jemen tagesschau de Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2017 08 25 Shelbayah Ben Brumfield Slma 2015 05 03 Report Saudi Arabia used U S supplied cluster bombs in Yemen CNN Retrieved 2023 02 22 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Why the last U S company making cluster bombs won t produce them anymore The Washington Post 2 September 2016 Air Weapons Hockey Pucks From Hell strategypage com Retrieved 2023 02 22 External links editSensor Fuzed Weapon SFW Textron Defense Systems Federation of American Scientists article about SFW s Archived 2016 07 29 at the Wayback Machine GlobalSecurity org CBU 97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon GlobalSecurity org CBU 105 Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser WCMD GlobalSecurity org BLU 108 B Submunition Animated Video of SFW Deployment Live exercise Field test of CBU 97 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title CBU 97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon amp oldid 1157000676, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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