The United States is set to resume shipments of Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine after making technical upgrades to counter Russian jamming, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the weapon.
According to the sources, 19 GLSDBs were recently test-fired to assess the effectiveness of the upgrades. The modifications involved reinforcing connections within the weapon to enhance its resilience against Russian electronic warfare tactics.
The reintroduction of the GLSDBs onto the battlefield could occur within days, as a stockpile is already present in Europe, one of the sources told Reuters. Ukrainian forces last used these weapons months ago.
The rocket-propelled bombs were purchased during US President Joe Biden’s administration using the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. The US has bought nearly $33.2 billion worth of new arms and military equipment for Kyiv directly from US and allied defense contractors.
The shipment comes after President Donald Trump’s administration agreed on 11 March to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The decision followed Kyiv’s statement that it was ready to support Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
The GLSDB is jointly manufactured by SAAB AB and Boeing. It features small wings that extend its reach and comprises the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and the M26 rocket motor, both common in US inventories and relatively inexpensive.
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