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CBU-52B/B; CBU-58/B, A/B; and CBU-71/B, A/B
The CBU-58 and CBU-71 cluster bombs are dispenser type munitions consisting of a SUU-30H/B dispenser and 650 baseball-size bomblets. The only difference between these two cluster bombs is the bomblet fusing.
CBU-58 contains BLU-63 bomblets incorporating the M219 fuse for impact detonation. CBU-71 contains BLU-86 bomblets with M224 fusing for random time delay detonation after impact. Both submunitions are spin armed after release. Weapons effects options are the same for both cluster bombs. The "/B" option gives fragmentation only. The
"A/B" option includes incendiary capability in addition to the standard fragmentation.
The SUU-30H/B dispenser is cigar shaped and is divided in half longitudinally. Its rear fins are canted slightly to provide spin-stabilized flight. The dispenser is 7 feet 6 inches in length and has a diameter of 16 inches. It has an empty weight of 198 lbs. and when fully loaded, it weighs 820 lbs. At fuse function, the nose is unlocked allowing ram air
to force the two halves of the case apart, dispensing the bomblets.
The BLU-63 and BLU-86 bomblets are approximately 3 inches in diameter and weigh just under a pound each. They contain .25 lbs. of explosive. Fragmentation is caused by the scored steel casing which produces 260 fragments at 4,900 feet per second. Incendiary effects are produced by adding two 5-gram titanium pellets to the bomblet.
Typical targets include AAA sites of any kind, armored personnel carriers, artillery, supply sites, open radar sites, fixed SAM sites, and troops in the open. The fragmentation pattern for each submunition at sea level is 430 feet vertically and 490 feet horizontally. The time of fall is 11.6 seconds. If the canister fails to open, the fragmentation pattern is 1,895 feet vertically and 2,290 feet horizontally. The time of fall is 23 seconds.
CBU-89 Gator is a "hi-tech" weapon consisting of a SUU-64/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser (TMD), an electronics assembly, 72 BLU-91/B antitank mines, 22 BLU-92/B antipersonnel mines, and an optional FZU-39/B proximity sensor. A single canister is 7 feet 8 inches in length, 16 inches in diameter, and weighs 696 lbs.
The BLU-91/B antitank mine is a magnetic sensing submunition. Its
bi-directional mass-focus warhead is effective against tanks and armored vehicles and detonates when the sensor detects a target or the mine is disturbed. Detonation also occurs at the expiration of a preset self-destruct time or if mine battery voltage drops below an acceptable level.
The BLU-92/B antipersonnel mine is similar to the antitank mine, but is a fragmenting case warhead triggered by trip wires. Each submunition
contains eight tripwires and sensors (4 per side). At mine arming, the tripwires deploy to a maximum of 40 feet.
Both submunitions are armed two minutes after impact. Both are fired by either a target sensor, a disturbance sensor, low voltage, or a self-destruct timer.
Typical targets include tanks, armored vehicles, and personnel. CBU-89 Gator is also an ideal weapon for enemy airfields. After
runways and taxiways have been cratered, CBU-89 Gator effectively delays airfield repairs.
A typical pattern size is 800 x 1,000 feet. Tactical Munitions Dispenser reliability is 98%. Antitank submunition reliability is 96%, while antipersonnel submunition reliability is 82%.
The fragmentation pattern for an intact canister dropped at sea level is 2,340 feet vertically and 2,780 feet horizontally. The time of fall is 26.2 seconds.
The CBU-87/B combined effects munition is a dispenser type munition consisting of a SUU-65B canister containing 202 BLU-97/B armor piercing shaped charged bomblets. These bomblets provide fragmentation as well as incendiary effects. After weapon release, special canted fins are deployed, which cause the bomb to spin. The spinning can be varied to produce different pattern sizes.
The BLU-97/B bomblet deploys an air inflatable retarder much like that of a BSU-49 or 50, only much smaller. When the bomblet senses a minimum of 6.5 G's of deceleration, the bomblet arms. This sequence takes roughly 2.6 seconds to complete. The bomblet contains a shaped charge and is very effective against both hard and soft targets.
The CBU-87/B is equipped with one FZU-39/B proximity sensor. This
fuse can be used as a timer fuse or a radar proximity sensor fuse. Timing settings are selectable from a range of 0.95 to 4.51 seconds. Height of function settings range from 300 to 3,000 feet. Spin settings range from 0 to 2,500 rpm. When the weapon's ground closing velocity is between 125 and 1,200 feet per second, the canister starts spinning. Once the set spin rate is reached the canister opens and the bomblets are released.
Typical targets include light armor, vehicles, materials, and personnel. The average pattern size is 150 x 150 feet for 1,000-rpm spin rate and 250 x 250 feet for 2,000-rpm spin rate.
The fragmentation pattern at sea level is 1,895 feet vertically and 2,290 feet horizontally. The time of fall is 23 seconds.
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