Russian defence ministry announces destruction of non-existent US GLSDB missile with 150km launch range

The Russian Ministry of Defence has announced the successful interception of a Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). But there is a nuance.

Here's What We Know

In early February 2023, the US Department of Defense officially announced a $2.2bn military aid package for Ukraine, which included Hawk surface-to-air missile systems, Javelin missiles, Claymore mines, Puma drones and GLSBs.

On 28 March 2023, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed that the air defence intercepted 19 projectiles launched from the M142 HIMARS high-mobility artillery missile system. Among them were 18 GMLRS and one GLSDB. Exactly how they managed to shoot them down, the Russian defence ministry does not specify.

There is one important nuance in this whole story. The Boeing company has not established serial production of GLSDB. As we are dealing with a new ammunition, the USAI allocated $200 million for it. However, the shells will not arrive in Ukraine until the end of 2023. Specifically, Bloomberg reported in February that deliveries could take 9 months.

The GLSDB combines an M26 rocket engine with a 115kg GBU-39/B SDB guided bomb. It uses an inertial guidance system and GPS for guidance. The maximum launch range is 150 km.

Source: Russian Ministry of Defence