CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition

CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition

The CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition is a cluster bomb used by the United States Air Force. CBU stands for Cluster Bomb Unit.

It was developed by Aerojet General/Honeywell. In 1986, the bomb was introduced to replace the earlier cluster bombs used in the Vietnam War. The list price is set at $14,000 per bomb.

When dropped from an aircraft, a cluster bomb unit separates into several smaller bombs and makes many little explosions covering a larger area than a typical bomb would cover. The bomb is not necessarily used for precision, but for destroying multiple targets at once or making sure something gets hit along with the outer perimeter of the target getting hit as well.

The bomb is designed to be dropped by plane at any altitude and any air speed. It is a free-falling bomb and relies on the aircraft to aim it before it drops. Once it is dropped, it needs no further instruction, as opposed to guided munitions or smart bombs. The bomb can be dropped by a variety of modern-day aircraft. It is 92 inches long, 15.6 inches in diameter, and weighs 950 pounds. Inside the cluster bomb unit, there are mini-bombs (or bomblets) that deploy before it hits the ground. Each cluster bomb unit contains 202 armor-piercing shaped charge bomblets.

Manufacturers have claimed that the failure rate for each bomb is about 5%. This would mean that of the 202 bomblets dropped, about 10 will not explode on impact. In reality however, the failure rates of the CBU87 have been much higher. [cite paper
url=http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/resource.asp?resID=1035|publisher=Landmine Action|title=Cluster munitions in Kosovo: Analysis of use, contamination and casualties|date=February, 2007
]

The bomblets are stored in an SUU-65B canister. While descending in the air, the bomb starts spinning. After it drops to a certain altitude, the bomb breaks open and drops the mini-bombs. When the mini-bombs hit the ground, they will cover a large area and have separate explosions within that area. The CBU-87 can be adjusted so it can cover a smaller or wider area of land. Depending on the rate of spin and the altitude at which the main bomb opens, it can cover an area between 70 x 70feet and 400 x 800 feet. Decreasing these adjustments causes a lower surface area to be hit. Increasing them allows a wider surface area to be hit. There are 6 speeds that can adjust the bomb's rate of spin.

The CBU-87 is fused with an FZU-39/B proximity sensor. The sensor has 12 time selections which tell when the bomb is to be dispensed and discharge the bomblets. When the bomb opens up while falling, it separates into three pieces, not including the bomblets, and the BLU-97/B bomblets fall out.

When the CBU-87 is used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit, it is designated as CBU-103. [ [http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app5/wcmd.html Lockheed Martin WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) - Designation Systems] ]

Operational use

During Operation Desert Storm, the US Air Force dropped 10,035 CBU-87s. During Operation Allied Force, the US dropped about 1,100 cluster bombs, and most of these were CBU-87s.

On May 7, 1999, a CBU-87 was responsible for one of the most serious incident involving civilian deaths and the use of cluster bombs, the Cluster bombing of Niš.

References

Bibliography

* [http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/88686/Military.com/nascarMilitary.com "Equipment guide." Military.com. 25 Mar 2007]
* [http://www.vipersinthestorm.com/html/weapons_bunker_-_page_3.html Vipers in the Storm, "Weapons Bunker." 25 Mar 2007]

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-87.htm CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munitions (CEM) - Global Security]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb — The BLU 97/B Combined Effects Bomb is the submunition used in several cluster bomb type weapon systems. When the bomblets fall, they separate from the main bomb and independently free fall to the ground. They contain an inflatable bag (ballute)… …   Wikipedia

  • CBU-87 CEM — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda CBU 87. La CBU 87 Combined Effects Munition es una bomba de racimo usada por la Fuerza Aérea de los Estados Unidos. CBU son las siglas de Cluster Bomb Unit. Fue desarrollada por Aerojet General/Honeywell. En 1986 fue …   Wikipedia Español

  • Streumunition — Ein US amerikanischer B 1 Bomber wirft 30 „Cluster Bomben“ ab Marq …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Air and Space Operations Center — 601st Air and Space Operations Center at Tyndall AFB, Florida An Air and Space Operations Center (AOC) is a type of command center used by the United States Air Force. It is the senior agency of the Air Force component commander to provide… …   Wikipedia

  • McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle — For the game, see F 15 Strike Eagle (video game). F 15E Strike Eagle USAF F 15Es of the 4th Operations Group in fo …   Wikipedia

  • F-15E Strike Eagle — Infobox Aircraft name=F 15E Strike Eagle type=Strike fighter manufacturer=McDonnell Douglas/Boeing IDS caption= designer= first flight=11 December 1986 introduced=April 1988 retired= number built= status= unit cost=F 15E: US$31.1 million (1998) F …   Wikipedia

  • Global Positioning System — GPS redirects here. For other uses, see GPS (disambiguation). Geodesy Fundamentals …   Wikipedia

  • F-16 Fighting Falcon — infobox Aircraft name= F 16 Fighting Falcon caption=A USAF F 16 over Iraq after refueling, 2008 type= Multirole fighter national origin = United States manufacturer= General Dynamics Lockheed Martin first flight= 2 February avyear|1974… …   Wikipedia

  • McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle — McDonnell Douglas F 15E Strike Eagle …   Wikipédia en Français

  • M16 rifle — Rifle, 5.56 mm, M16 From top to bottom: M16A1, M16A2, M4A1, M16A4 Type Assault rifle Place  …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”