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CLUSTER BOMB UNITS (CBUs) | Up
Airman - Aviation theories and other practices | Next
AIR-LAUNCHED WEAPONS |
personnel targets. The most commonly used types are
discussed in this section.
Antitank Bomb Cluster and Antipersonnel/
Antimaterial Bomb Cluster
The antitank bomb cluster Mk 20 Mods and the
antipersonnel/antimaterial bomb cluster CBU-59/B
(fig. 8-5) are air-launched, conventional free-fall
weapons. The Mk 20 Mods are used against armored
vehicles. The CBU-59/B is used against light material
and personnel targets.
The Mk 20 Mods and CBU-59/B CBUs are
delivered to the fleet completely assembled. Fuzes,
suspension lugs, arming wires, wire extractors, and all
other necessary components have been installed.
The only difference between the Mk 20 Mods and
the CBU-59/B CBUs is the type of bomb/bomblets
contained inside the dispenser. The Mk 20 CBU weighs
490 pounds and contains 247 Mk 118 antitank bombs.
The CBU-59/B weighs 750 pounds and contains 717
BLU-77/B target discriminating shape-charge airburst
bomblets.
When either the Mk 20 Mods or the CBU-59/B
CBU is released from the aircraft, the fuze arming wire
and the fin release wire is withdrawn from the fuze,
allowing the fuze to function after the preset delay.
Functioning of the fuze initiates a linear-shaped charge
in the dispenser. This, in turn, cuts the dispenser case in
half, dispersing the bombs/bomblets in the air.
Both CBUs are painted white with a yellow band
on the dispenser body, indicating a high-explosive
hazard.
Guided Bombs Unit (GBU)
GBU-12, GBU-16, and GBU-10 are Mk 82, Mk 83,
and Mk 84 bombs that are actually low-drag,
general-purpose (LDGP) bombs modified to detect a
target illuminated by a laser beam (fig. 8-6). LDGP
8-9
ANF0805
Figure 8-5.—Mk 20 Mods antitank bomb cluster and CBU-59/B antipersonnel/antimaterial bomb cluster.
DETECTOR
COMPUTER
GUIDANCE
FIN
CONTROL
SECTION
FORWARD
ADAPTER
ASSEMBLY
WARHEAD
ELECTRIC
FUZE CHARGING
RECEPTACLE
GUIDANCE UNIT
BOMB BODY
WING ASSEMBLY
ANF0806
Figure 8-6.—Typical guided bomb unit.
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