WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - The Pentagon is considering a Boeing proposal to supply Ukraine with cheap, small precision bombs fitted onto abundantly available rockets, allowing Kyiv to strike far behind Russian lines as the West struggles to meet demand for more arms.

U.S. and allied military inventories are shrinking, and Ukraine faces an increasing need for more sophisticated weapons as the war drags on. Boeing's proposed system, dubbed Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), is one of about a half-dozen plans for getting new munitions into production for Ukraine and America's Eastern European allies, industry sources said.


GLSDB could be delivered as early as spring 2023, according to a document reviewed by Reuters and three people familiar with the plan. It combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket motor, both of which are common in U.S. inventories

Doug Bush, the U.S. Army's chief weapons buyer, told reporters at the Pentagon last week the Army was also looking at accelerating production of 155 millimeter artillery shells - currently only manufactured at government facilities - by allowing defense contractors to build them.

The invasion of Ukraine drove up demand for American-made weapons and ammunition, while U.S. allies in Eastern Europe are "putting a lot of orders," in for a range of arms as they supply Ukraine, Bush added.

"It's about getting quantity at a cheap cost," said Tom Karako, a weapons and security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He said falling U.S. inventories help explain the rush to get more arms now, saying stockpiles are "getting low relative to the levels we like to keep on hand and certainly to the levels we're going to need to deter a China conflict."

Karako also noted that the U.S. exit from Afghanistan left lots of air-dropped bombs available. They cannot be easily used with Ukrainian aircraft, but "in today's context we should be looking for innovative ways to convert them to standoff capability."

Although a handful of GLSDB units have already been made, there are many logistical obstacles to formal procurement. The Boeing plan requires a price discovery waiver, exempting the contractor from an in-depth review that ensures the Pentagon is getting the best deal possible. Any arrangement would also require at least six suppliers to expedite shipments of their parts and services to produce the weapon quickly.

A Boeing spokesperson declined to comment. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman declined to comment on providing any "specific capability" to Ukraine, but said the U.S. and its allies "identify and consider the most appropriate systems" that would help Kyiv.

Although the United States has rebuffed requests for the 185-mile (297km) range ATACMS missile, the GLSDB's 94-mile (150km) range would allow Ukraine to hit valuable military targets that have been out of reach and help it continue pressing its counterattacks by disrupting Russian rear areas.

GLSDB is made jointly by SAAB AB (SAABb.ST) and Boeing Co (BA.N) and has been in development since 2019, well before the invasion, which Russia calls a "special operation". In October, SAAB chief executive Micael Johansson said of the GLSDB: "We are imminently shortly expecting contracts on that."

According to the document - a Boeing proposal to U.S. European Command (EUCOM), which is overseeing weapons headed to Ukraine - the main components of the GLSDB would come from current U.S. stores.

The M26 rocket motor is relatively abundant, and the GBU-39 costs about $40,000 each, making the completed GLSDB inexpensive and its main components readily available. Although arms manufacturers are struggling with demand, those factors make it possible to yield weapons by early 2023, albeit at a low rate of production.

GLSDB is GPS-guided, can defeat some electronic jamming, is usable in all weather conditions, and can be used against armored vehicles, according to SAAB's website. The GBU-39 - which would function as the GLSDB's warhead - has small, folding wings that allow it to glide more than 100km if dropped from an aircraft and targets as small as 3 feet in diameter.

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/100-mile-strike-weapon-weighed-ukraine-arms-makers-wrestle-with-demand-sources-2022-11-28/

Very needless and senseless war orchestrated by Vladimir Putin

Crazy Putin will stop the air bombardment knowing full well that Ukraine can hit russian soil.

Putin has already lost this war, he's been humiliated.

The use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons is off the table because there will be retaliation from NATO and that will be the end of Russia.

This is the most foolish war in modern history.
The invasion of Ukraine has become counterproductive, today Finland and Sweden have joined the NATO military alliance and that has extended NATO more closer to Russia.

A needless war if you ask me

NATO just indirectly admitted their failed policy in Ukraine.

Very good, all these little help in return for something hooge we sabi US before no be today

Ok.

Let's see who blinks first

Please everyone don't mind this fraudsters Anthony okeke is back with a full forces to continue scamming Nairaland people with the same format he has always been using, so just check the format oloriburuku man is still using to defraud a lot of people's here on Nairaland just be aware not to be scam


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Don't even send a penny to this fraudsters

Like for USA share for russia

Quelme:
NATO just indirectly admitted their failed policy in Ukraine.

..

USA playing with fire.

If they wish to, nobody would say pim and nothing would happen. Putin would only rant as usual and shut his mouth.

Oooops.

They strike for peace plz.

US is the biggest slaughterer of Ukraine. If they stop equipping Ukraine, the war would have been over long ago, but they would rather fight to the last Ukrainian, watch the country burn to ashes, just to see if they can bring Russia down. Good luck with that.

I just hope Zelensky isn't diverting all this weapons being supplied to him



.

God1000:
Supported, crazy Putin will stop the air bombardment knowing full well that Ukraine can hit russian soil

U sha know if Ukraine try am, the war escalates further?

Weapons that will be destroyed by the Russian military

Bombing and destruction in Ukraine is still on going and you guys are only considering building rocket carrying bombs

These people are just looking for means to escalate this war...something a sincere dialogue would de-escalate.

I don't know what the US have over all these European leaders that makes them always dance to the tune of the US. I mean, if this thing actually escalates, Europe will be the main battleground, in fact, one missile might not hit the American soil.

Wisdom is profitable to direct.

Odward:
Very good, all these little help in return for something hooge we sabi US before no be today

you call it little help?

God1000:

Very needless and senseless war orchestrated by Vladimir Putin

Crazy Putin will stop the air bombardment knowing full well that Ukraine can hit russian soil.

Putin has already lost this war, he's been humiliated

If I allow my little brother win a hand wrestle challenge, does it mean I have been humiliated? When will you realise that Russia's soft-gloves treatment is not weakness?

Fragility6:

U sha know if Ukraine try am, the war escalates further?

Ukraine had suffered enough. Afterall, the latter keeps pulling them back. Their recent victory in the Russian occupied region is a proof. Putin should engage USA or Japan, if they're truly powerful, not a hepless country like Ukraine.

NasoLifeBe!!!

When will African send their own, patapata e go be Catapult

Send all in. Throw everything at Russia bar the Nuke.

The Military Industrial Complex needs more money to fund more Research to produce more dangerous weapons.

In all of this, the Innocent ordinary men and women folks on both side are the one to suffer for it while some people stoking this smile to the Bank.


And when the War stops, they still win the Contracts for the Rebuilding.

A Win-Win for some and Lose-Lose for some.

Quelme:
NATO just indirectly admitted their failed policy in Ukraine.

Chai see comment! Delusion

Toor!

God1000:
Very needless and senseless war orchestrated by Vladimir Putin

Crazy Putin will stop the air bombardment knowing full well that Ukraine can hit russian soil.

Putin has already lost this war, he's been humiliated.

The use of nuclear weapon is off the table because that will be the end of Russia.

Du bist ein arshloch....sehr dumm

The defeat on UKRAINE swill bring shame to NATO and it allies that’s why they need to break there savings to weaponize Ukraine but already he’s defeat sending weapon now is just a source of reconciliation for NATO. Russia did a good calculation it’s winter already most NATOS don dey feel am. I will detest anyone that’s unpatriotic to his country and people. That’s what UKRAINE is doing