The latest development of small-diameter glide bombs launched from ground-based artillery rocket launchers
Russia, March 9, 2025 – A special category of ammunition, also used on the Ukrainian battlefield from air and ground platforms, has received a Turkish and American addition.
1. Tolun for GÖKTAN, may sound familiar
Tolun is a Turkish small-diameter glide bomb, which was designed, among other things, for F-16 aircraft. It weighs 139 kg, has a diameter of 17 cm and a length of 180 cm. It can be launched from a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet (12.2 km) and has a maximum range of 55 nautical miles (102 km). When launched from a distance of 30 nautical miles (55.6 km), it is capable of piercing a meter of reinforced concrete. The probable circular deviation of the CEP is less than 10 meters. The guidance method is combined inertial satellite.
Footage from tests of the Tolun glide bomb on the F-16, for use from this type of aircraft, a suspension system called the Smart Pneumatic Quad Rack, or SADAK-4T Tolun, is used, on which four Tolun bombs are placed:
Despite the fact that the Tolun bomb can still be considered a novelty, information has emerged that its manufacturer ASELSAN has test-fired it from the GÖKTAN ground system. The GÖKTAN system is designed to enable firing of surface-to-surface ammunition at long distances. It has now successfully launched the ASELSAN Tolun bomb with perfect accuracy. The GÖKTAN system, developed in cooperation with DELTA-V, integrates advanced command and fire control system technologies. These functions enable mission planning, optimized firing sequences and precise target targeting. The system has a 360-degree range – allowing circular fire without the need to move the platform. During the test, after separation from the DELTA-V missile system, the Tolun bomb unfolded its wings and entered a controlled flight mode. It successfully hit the designated target, thus verifying its potential combat effectiveness. The GÖKTAN system also supports targeting defined by points on the selected flight path, centralized and independent operating modes, attacking multiple targets and sequential firing. This is evidence of the growing level of the Turkish arms industry, whose exports last year reached a record $ 7.1 billion.
Report on the tests of the GÖKTAN system with the Tolun bomb:
2. The US is likely to modify the GBU-53/B StormBreaker small diameter aerial bomb for ground launch
The GBU-53/B bomb from Raytheon, which is part of RTX Corporation, was previously known as the Small Diameter Bomb II, or the second generation of small diameter bombs. It was a follow-up to the Boeing GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb. In cooperation with Saab, Boeing modified this bomb so that it could be launched from ground-based artillery rocket launchers such as the M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS, using surplus M26 rocket motors. While the air version was used by the Ukrainian Air Force, the ground version, called the GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb), was supposed to be one of the silver bullets, game changers, miracle weapons that would allow Ukraine to defeat Russia. But the result of these expectations was much more disappointing, as Russian electronic warfare equipment largely eliminated these bombs through jamming.
So it happened that the GBU-53/B StormBreaker bombs, which were originally supposed to exist only in an air-to-ground version, will also be modified for use from the ground. Jon “Stormin” Norman, Raytheon’s vice president of Air & Space Defense Systems Requirements & Capability, spoke about this on the Fighter Pilot Podcast.
Ukraine apparently never received the GBU-53/B StormBreaker bomb, and it is unlikely that anything will change now, although in addition to the US, it is or will be in service with Finland, Germany, Norway and Italy.
The bomb weighs 204 pounds (92.5 kg), of which 105 pounds (47.6 kg) is the warhead. Length 176 cm, diameter up to 18 cm. Maximum range is about 111 km for fixed targets, or about 74 km for moving targets. The guidance system is much more complex and advanced than in the case of its predecessor GBU-39/B. Combined inertial and satellite guidance is used by the GBU-53/B only when flying close to the target area. In addition, up to three methods of guidance to a target, which may be moving, are used. Millimeter-wave radar, infrared guidance using an uncooled sensor and semi-active laser guidance. The weapon is capable of combining information from sensors to identify and classify targets and, when used in semi-autonomous mode, can prioritize certain types of targets as needed. The bomb is primarily intended for advanced aircraft such as the F-15E, F-22, F-35 and F/A-18E/F. In the case of European countries, its delivery is part of the F-35 orders.
A similar weapon will be developed for ground-based use, although it does not yet have a name. However, Raytheon appears to be evaluating two different propulsion options. It is considering either a traditional solid-fuel solution or a jet engine. The first approach suggests launching the GBU-53/B to a high altitude, from where it will glide towards the target. The second would involve a miniature jet engine that would essentially turn the bomb into a cruise missile. The fact that this alternative is being considered may be due to concerns that the bomb could be shot down by enemy air defenses. If it is immediately detected at high altitude, this would give defenders more time to react.
Russian report on the GBU-53/B StormBreaker bomb:
3. Russian glide bombs are likely to continue to function without major problems
In the past period, Ukrainian propaganda has apparently tried to boost the morale of its troops in relation to the problem of Russian glide bombs with UMPK blocks, as well as the UMPB D-30 SN, along roughly three lines.
1. NATO has announced an innovation call that focuses on solutions for detecting, tracking or neutralizing (Russian) glide bombs.
2. The bomb is arriving less often, which was personally refuted by President Zelensky, who stated that Russia used 1,300 aerial bombs last week.
3. The bomb is arriving less often because it can effectively jam Ukrainian electronic warfare, but this has not been documented very reliably.
In fact, even if there was a continuous decrease, it could have been caused by a short operational pause, during which the Russian command, taking into account the changing situation, could reassess its operational plans, appropriately maneuver large volumes, up to, say, the level of the entire 8th Guards Army, and create ammunition reserves for further use. Currently, for a change, there are supposed to be strong Russian air strikes in some sectors.
Report on the alleged use of the UMPB D-30 SN against the headquarters of the 37th Marine Brigade:
Another problem is that the Russians master all the guidance methods used by the GBU-53/B StormBreaker bomb, they just haven’t had much reason to combine them yet. But they work separately on other weapons, which have not been written about for a while.
Martin Scholz
