CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon

The CBU-97 consists of an SUU-66/B tactical munition dispenser that contains 10 BLU-108 submunitions. Each submunition contains four hockey-puck-shaped sensor-fused projectiles called Skeets. These detect target vehicles, such as tanks, armored personnel carriers, trucks and other support vehicles, and fire an explosively-formed penetrator downwards at them.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

Image:CBU-97 SFW (8steps attacking process) NT.PNG

The 40 Skeets scan an area of {{convert|1500|x|500|ft|m}} using infrared and laser sensors, seeking targets by pattern-matching. When a Skeet finds a target it fires an explosively-formed penetrator to destroy it. If a Skeet fails to find a target, it self-destructs {{convert|50|ft}} above the ground; if this fails, a back-up timer disables the Skeet. These features are intended to avoid later civilian casualties from unexploded munitions, and result in an unexploded-ordnance rate of less than 1%.

As the CBU-97 approaches its designated aim-point, the dispenser skin is severed into three panels by an explosive cutting charge. The slipstream peels away these panels, exposing the 10 BLU-108 submunitions. An airbag ejects the forward five submunitions, then five in the aft bay. Following a preset timeline, the submunitions deploy parachutes so that they are spaced about {{convert|100|ft}} apart. Then each submunition releases its chute, fires a rocket motor that stops its descent and spins it on its longitudinal axis, and releases Skeets 90 degrees apart, in pairs. Each spinning Skeet makes a coning motion that allows it to scan a circular area on the ground.

The laser sensor detects changes in apparent terrain height such as the contour of a vehicle. At the same time, infrared sensors detect heat signatures, such as those emitted by the engine of a vehicle. When the combination of height contours and heat signatures indicative of a target are detected, the Skeet detonates, firing an explosively-formed penetrator (EFP) down into the target at high speed, sufficient to penetrate armor plating and destroy what is protected by it. Even well-armored vehicles such as main battle tanks, while having massive armor protection on the front and sides, are only lightly armored above,[http://www.9abc.net/index.php/archives/14124 ABC: United States announced the sale to India-based 521 CBU-105 cluster bombs, 2011-08-30] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724122918/http://www.9abc.net/index.php/archives/14124 |date=2012-07-24 }} and relatively easily penetrated. Each bomb can spread penetrators over an area of {{convert|15|acres|m2|abbr=in}} or more. According to an ABC News consultant, an attack by this bomb would effectively stop an armored convoy moving down a road. While the bomb was designed during the Cold War for fighter-bombers flying at low altitude below radar cover to attack Soviet tanks, a single B-52 high altitude heavy bomber can destroy an entire armored division with these bombs, where in the past dozens of aircraft would have had to drop hundreds of bombs for the same effect.{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97677&page=1|title=Targeting Tanks with Smart Cluster Bombs|date=7 January 2006|website=ABC News|access-date=10 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180411025755/https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97677&page=1|archive-date=11 April 2018|url-status=live}}

The CBU-97, or CBU-105 version, is deployed by tactical aircraft from altitudes of {{convert|200|to|20000|ft|-1}} Above Ground Level (AGL) at speeds of {{convert|250|to|650|kn|km/h}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-97-specs.htm|title=CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon - Dumb Bombs|first=John|last=Pike|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=2006-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060822072245/http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-97-specs.htm|archive-date=2006-08-22|url-status=live}}

The weapon has been in production since 1992 and it was first deployed, but not used, during Operation Allied Force when NATO entered the Kosovo War. Sensor-fused weapons were first fired in combat during the 2003 invasion of Iraq.{{Cite web |last=Osborn|first=Kris |date=2003-08-19 |title=Sensor fuzed weapons aid combat in Iraq |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/08/19/hln.terror.sensor.fuzed/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In 2010 the US government announced the sale to India of 512 CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapons. The expected platform is the SEPECAT Jaguar.{{Cite web |last=Hoyle |first=Craig |title=AERO INDIA: Textron launches production of CBU-105 sensor fuzed weapon for India |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/aero-india-textron-launches-production-of-cbu-105-sensor-fuzed-weapon-for-india/98323.article |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=Flight Global |language=en}}

Saudi Arabia has also requested the CBU-105.Hoyle, Craig. [http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saudi-arabia-requests-sensor-fuzed-weapon-buy-358061/ ""] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729041328/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saudi-arabia-requests-sensor-fuzed-weapon-buy-358061/ |date=2012-07-29 }} Flight Magazine. June 15, 2011. In May 2015, Human Rights Watch reported on, and criticized, the Saudi use of the CBU-105 SFW during the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen.{{cite web |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-347.html |title=Kampf gegen Huthi-Rebellen: Arabische Bodentruppen im Jemen? | tagesschau.de |access-date=2017-08-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170426/http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/jemen-347.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 }}{{Cite web |last=Brumfield |first=Ben |last2=Shelbayah |first2=Slma |date=2015-05-03 |title=Report: Saudi Arabia used U.S.-supplied cluster bombs in Yemen |url=https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/03/middleeast/yemen-hrw-cluster-munitions-saudi-arabia/index.html |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=CNN |language=en}}

The United States last bought SFWs in 2007, after which it continued to be produced for export. In September 2016, Textron announced it would no longer produce the weapon, citing low demand as well as international controversy over the use of cluster munitions.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/09/02/why-the-last-u-s-company-making-cluster-bombs-wont-produce-them-anymore/ Why the last U.S. company making cluster bombs won’t produce them anymore]. The Washington Post. 2 September 2016.

In addition to the United States, the CBU-105 has been ordered by Singapore, India, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.{{Cite web |title=Air Weapons: Hockey Pucks From Hell |url=http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20130913.aspx |access-date=2023-02-22 |website=strategypage.com}}

Per globalsecurity.org:

• Type: Freefall bomb
• Weight: {{convert|927|lb|0}}
• Name: CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW)
• Length: {{convert|92|in|cm|0}}
• Diameter: {{convert|15.6|in|cm|0}}
• Dispenser: SW-65 tactical dispenser
• Bomblets: 10 × BLU-108/B
• Warhead: Armour Piercing
• Unit Cost: $360,000 - baseline [$ FY90]

• CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon, WCMD guided bomb which drops non-explosive metal rods

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070911061704/http://www.textrondefense.com/products/airlaunched/sfw.htm Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) - Textron Defense Systems]
• [https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/cbu-97.htm Federation of American Scientists article about SFW's] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729170646/https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/dumb/cbu-97.htm |date=2016-07-29 }}
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-97.htm GlobalSecurity.org: CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-105.htm GlobalSecurity.org: CBU-105 Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD)]
• [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/blu-108.htm GlobalSecurity.org: BLU-108/B Submunition]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua3nLmE7Kow&mode=related&search= Animated Video of SFW Deployment]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-216-Y6Cac Live exercise / Field test of CBU-97]

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Category:Cluster munitions

Category:Aerial bombs of the United States

Category:Textron

Category:Anti-tank weapons

Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1990s

Category:Fire-and-forget weapons