GLSDB in Ukrainian hands?
The value of the aid is only $100 million, making it nominally 1 of the smaller of those that have been passed on to date. Apart from standard positions specified as additional Stinger anti-aircraft launchers, Javelin, AT4 and TOW anti-tank systems, artillery ammunition 155 and 105 mm, 1 is of peculiar interest.
It's a single M142 HIMARS launcher and extra ammo for this system. As of June 2022 Ukraine received 20 M142 HIMARS launchers from the US. From another allies – large Britain, Norway, Germany and France Kiev received another 15 launchers on the M270 MLRS caterpillar chassis in various versions (depending on the country of origin – LRU from France, MARS II from Germany, etc).
Since the beginning, Ukraine has received the mentioned GMLRS series of ammunition in 2 versions – 1 with a unit head with explosive material intended for, for example, the demolition of buildings, and ammunition containing 170 1000 tungsten balls, which explodes respective meters above the mark by filling the area with hail of shrapnel. This kind of ammunition is used, for example, in open field attacks, equipment clusters, or live force concentration. Although there is not always detonation or vehicle fires, tungsten shards effectively neutralize the infected target.
M142 firing GMLRS household rocket photograph US ArmyAt the beginning, the ‘AMM to HIMARS/MLRS’ position raised no uncertainty about its type. Recently, however, Ukrainians have started receiving ATACMS ballistic missiles, the transportation of which besides hides under the same position as erstwhile ammunition with a scope of up to 80 km.
The transportation of a single M142 launcher began generating speculation among Ukrainian and Russian military bloggers. any of them believe that the fresh launcher is simply a modified vehicle for the function of launching a fresh scope of weapons that enter or have already entered into the usage of Ukraine's armed forces. It is GLSDB missiles which are an innovative combination of the M30 (GMLRS) drive parts with the GBU-39 SDB aviation bomb or "small diameter bomb". It is an aviation bomb weighing 130 kg, of which the mass of the combat part is about 90 kg.
This is simply a akin weight to the standard M30 missile, however, there is simply a fundamental difference between effectors. The M30, both with a single head and a sprayhead, has a maximum scope of little than 80 km. In the case of GDLSB, this scope grows to about 150 km. The rule of rocket operation is simple. The rocket's engine takes it to the right height. There, the warhead separates itself from a condition of the plane, spreads its wings and glides to its destination by means of satellite navigation. Importantly, glide can take place along a fixed way which allows for mark attack from virtually each side.
In the video below, the GLSDB operating principle
Access to this projectile gives Ukraine the ability to attack targets located far further than before utilizing a comparatively inexpensive means of destruction.
The first missiles ordered last July by the U.S. Department of defence for Ukraine were to scope Dniepr this fall. A fewer days ago, Russian military bloggers allegedly reported the first usage of GLSDB, but so far there has been no visual confirmation of specified fact. Nevertheless, the announcement of the transportation of the fresh HIMARS launcher may indeed prove that Ukraine will shortly start utilizing its fresh weapons to attack the deep backs of the Russian army which will further impede the life of the Russian army occupying the territory of Ukraine.
Source: Twitter/Telegram/Saab/Boeing
