The first evidence of a GLSDB raid appeared online on Wednesday. Russian troops posted a video depicting a box of rocket fragments including a GLSDB’s tail section.
GLSDB is a pretty nice weapon. Combines the range and capability of a bomb with a glide kit boosted to altitude via a rocket. This type of weapon is new for the US as they normally have air superiority, so boosting the glide bombs from the ground wasn’t previously needed as they would be carried up by an aircraft instead.
A short range missile (such as GMLRS, which HIMARS also fires) does not have the glide kit. This means the missile is much faster, but for maximum range the missile has to follow a (vaguely) ballistic trajectory. With the glide kit, it can trade much of that speed into additional range by gliding to the target. This means GLSDB gliders can hit targets at further range, but being slower, it’s easier to shoot down and makes it less able to hit extremely time sensitive targets. IIRC, GMLRS missiles have a time-to-target of 2-3 min from launch, while GLSDB gliders have (a guesstimate on my part) more like 10-15min from launch. GLSDB gliders can also sacrifice some of the range to loop around and hit targets from different angles, while GMLRS missiles are pretty much only top-down. GLSDB gliders are also significantly cheaper than GMLRS missiles.
Appreciate the informative response!
I’m ashamed to say it hadn’t ever occurred to me that a missile still needs to follow a ballistic path.
I’ve been fooled by movies without realising the nonsense in that, given they have no ‘wings’. Control surfaces aside of course. Thanks!
GLSDB is a pretty nice weapon. Combines the range and capability of a bomb with a glide kit boosted to altitude via a rocket. This type of weapon is new for the US as they normally have air superiority, so boosting the glide bombs from the ground wasn’t previously needed as they would be carried up by an aircraft instead.
Sorry for ignorance, genuine question, how is this different to a short range missile?
A short range missile (such as GMLRS, which HIMARS also fires) does not have the glide kit. This means the missile is much faster, but for maximum range the missile has to follow a (vaguely) ballistic trajectory. With the glide kit, it can trade much of that speed into additional range by gliding to the target. This means GLSDB gliders can hit targets at further range, but being slower, it’s easier to shoot down and makes it less able to hit extremely time sensitive targets. IIRC, GMLRS missiles have a time-to-target of 2-3 min from launch, while GLSDB gliders have (a guesstimate on my part) more like 10-15min from launch. GLSDB gliders can also sacrifice some of the range to loop around and hit targets from different angles, while GMLRS missiles are pretty much only top-down. GLSDB gliders are also significantly cheaper than GMLRS missiles.
GLSDB gliders go 93 miles.
GMLRS missiles go 57 miles.
Appreciate the informative response! I’m ashamed to say it hadn’t ever occurred to me that a missile still needs to follow a ballistic path. I’ve been fooled by movies without realising the nonsense in that, given they have no ‘wings’. Control surfaces aside of course. Thanks!
For additional reference, we now have video of a GLSDB in action in Ukraine.
Holy shit yeah that’s a step up from drone grenades footage, nice!