Cluster Bombs - Design
Regardless of its type or purpose, dropped ordnance is dispensed or dropped from an aircraft. Dropped ordnance is divided into three subgroups: bombs; dispensers, which contain submunitions; and submunitions.
Cluster munitions (CBUs) fall into the dumb bomb or unguided category with the exception of the BLU-108/B Sensor Fuzed Weapon and Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD). CBUs combine dispensers, fuzes, and submunitions into a single weapon with a specialized or general purpose mission. Once released, CBUs fall for a specified amount of time or distance before their dispensers open, allowing the submunitions to effectively cover a wide area target. The submunitions are activated by an internal fuze, and can detonate above ground, at impact, or in a delayed mode.
DISPENSERS
Dispensers may be classified as another type of dropped ordnance. Like bombs, they are carried by aircraft. Their payload, however, is smaller ordnance called submunitions. Dispensers come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the payload inside. Some dispensers are reusable, and some are one-time-use items.
Dropped dispensers fall away from the aircraft and are stabilized in flight by fin assemblies. Dropped dispensers may be in one piece or in multiple pieces. All dropped dispensers use either mechanical time or proximity fuzing. These fuzes allow the payload to be dispersed at a predetermined height above the target. Multiple-piece dispensers open up and disperse their payload when the fuze functions. Single-piece dispensers eject their payload out of ports or holes in the body when the fuze functions.
Attached dispensers stay attached to the aircraft and can be reloaded and used again. Their payload is dispersed out the rear or from the bottom of the dispenser.
SUBMUNITIONS
Most airframes are capable of delivering a variety of submunitions. There is no set air delivery mission profile. The hazard area depends on the submunition, mission profile, target type, and number of sorties. Air Force and naval air power employ cluster bomb units (CBUs) containing submunitions that produce hazard areas similar to MLRS/ cannon artillery submunitions. Air delivered canisters contain varying amounts of CBUs. One CBU-58 or three CBU-87/ CBU-52 contain approximately the same number of submunitions as one MLRS rocket with 644 submunitions. A B-52 dropping a full load of 45 CBUs (each CBU-58/CBU-71 contains 650 submunitions) may produce an hazard area that is significantly more dense than an MLRS hazard area. A typical F-16 flying close air support (CAS) against a point target may drop two CBUs per aircraft per run, thus producing a very low-density hazard area.
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