CBU-97

CBU-97 SFW

Description: The CBU-97/CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) is a 1,000-pound class submunition dispenser designed to effectively engage and destroy heavy armored vehicles both stationary and moving. The US Air Force might use this weapon to stop heavy armor forces in the event of a regional crisis getting more time for coalition forces to arrive to the theater of operations. As the remaining cluster bombs, the SFW can be integrated onto the majority of tactical aircraft operated by the US and allied countries.

The 1,000 pounds SFW consists of the SUU-66/B tactical munitions dispenser and 10 BLU-108 anti-tank submunitions. Each BLU-108/B carries four shaped skeet infrared sensing projectiles which translates into 40 projectiles in the CBU-97. The anti-tank submunitions are highly effective because they use top-attack hitting the target's roof where there is weaker armor. It can be released from altitudes ranging from 200-ft (60+ meters) to 20,000-ft (6,000+ meters) at speeds between 250 to 650 knots.

The Sensor Fuzed Weapon can be fitted with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) tail kit turning into a weapon with improved accuracy that can be released from higher altitudes. In the early 2000s, the US Air Force was procuring WCMD in large numbers to convert its SFW bombs into weapons that can be released precisely from higher altitudes improving the aircraft survivability. CBU-97 refitted with the WCMD tail kit is designated the CBU-105.

Specifications
Dimensions: Diameter 400 mm, Length 2.3 m

Weights: Max Weight 420 kg (926 lb)

see operators map

Turkey

United Arab Emirates

United States of America