GBU-15
| GBU-15 | |
|---|---|
A GBU-15(V)21/B
|
|
| Type | Precision guided munition (PGM) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1975–present |
| Used by | USAF |
| Wars | Desert Storm |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Rockwell International |
| Designed | 1970s |
| Variants |
|
| Specifications | |
| Length | 154 in (3.90 m) |
| Diameter | 18.7 in (475 mm) |
|
|
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| Warhead weight | 2,000 lb (910 kg) |
|
|
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| Wingspan | 4 ft 11 in (1.5 m) |
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Operational
range |
5 to 15 nmi (9.3 to 27.8 km; 5.8 to 17.3 mi) |
|
Guidance
system |
Manual guidance by radio datalink with TV guidance or Infrared homing with Imaging Infra-red |
|
Steering
system |
Aerodynamic |
|
Launch
platform |
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Guided Bomb Unit 15 is an unpowered, glide weapon used to destroy high-value enemy targets. It was designed for use with F-15E Strike Eagle, F-111 'Aardvark' and F-4 Phantom II aircraft. The GBU-15 has long-range maritime anti-ship capability with the B-52 Stratofortress.Rockwell International is the prime contractor for this weapon system.
The weapon consists of modular components that are attached to either a general purpose Mark 84 bomb or a penetrating-warhead BLU-109 bomb. Each weapon has five components—a forward guidance section, warhead adapter section, control module, airfoil components, and a weapon data link.
The guidance section is attached to the nose of the weapon and contains either a television guidance system for daytime or an imaging infrared system for night or limited, adverse weather operations. A data link in the tail section sends guidance updates to the control aircraft that enables the weapon systems operator to guide the bomb by remote control to its target.
An external electrical conduit extends the length of the warhead which attaches the guidance adapter and control unit. The conduit carries electrical signals between the guidance and control sections. The umbilical receptacle passes guidance and control data between cockpit control systems of the launching aircraft and the weapon prior to launch.
The rear control section consists of four wings that are in an "X"-like arrangement with trailing edge flap control surfaces for flight maneuvering. The control module contains the autopilot, which collects steering data from the guidance section and converts the information into signals that move the wing control surfaces to change the weapon's flight path.
The GBU-15 may be used in either a direct or an indirect attack. In a direct attack, the pilot selects a target before launch, locks the weapon guidance system onto it and launches the weapon. The weapon automatically guides itself to the target, enabling the pilot to leave the area. In an indirect attack, the weapon is guided by remote control after launch. The pilot releases the weapon and, via remote control, searches for the target. Once the target is acquired, the weapon can be locked to the target or manually guided via the Hughes Aircraft AN/AXQ-14 data-link system.
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Wikipedia