The United States has postponed the transfer to Ukraine of the first large batch of small-diameter ground-based rocket bombs (GLSDB), intended for strikes with a range of about 160 km, to next year.
What is known about the reasons for delaying the transfer of GLSDB bombs to Ukraine
According to the journalists of the publication concerning representatives of the Pentagon and officials familiar with the issue, Ukraine will be able to receive these bombs as part of defense assistance in the first half of 2024.
People familiar with the current timeline say that delivery to the US by Boeing, GLSDB's general contractor, will take place at the end of December, followed by several months of testing before shipping to Ukraine, the publication said.
According to the representative of the Pentagon in a comment to journalists, the US Ministry of Defense expects to transfer these bombs to Ukraine in early 2024 after a successful inspection.
Because the contract to begin production of the GLSDB was signed in March, according to a statement from the US Department of Defense to Reuters, the delivery was postponed until the end of the year. The production required materials provided by the state, so the signing of the contract limited its start.
What is known about the American GLSDB long-range bombs
A long-range cruise bomb can hit a target at 150 kilometres. The projectile is an experimental hybrid that combines the GBU-39 small-diameter aerial bomb with the rocket engine of the M26 rocket.
The GLSDB is jointly produced by Sweden's SAAB AB ( SAABb.ST ) and Boeing Co ( BA.N ). According to SAAB's website, such bombs are GPS-guided, which can withstand some electronic jamming. The weapon suits all weather conditions and can be used against armoured vehicles.
Projectile characteristics:
mass - 130 kg;
length - 1800 mm;
damage range - about 150 km;
mass of the combat unit - 93 kg;
launch platforms - M270, HIMARS.
