The Pentagon is considering Boeing's proposal to supply Ukraine with cheap, small-sized, high-precision projectiles that can be mounted on existing missiles.
This will allow Kiev to strike far behind Russian troops while the West tries to meet the demand for additional weapons, writes Reuters.
Boeing's proposed system, dubbed the Small Diameter Ground-Based Bomb (GLSDB), could be delivered as early as spring 2023, according to a document seen by the agency. The GLSDB combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) with the M26 rocket engine.
The proposed Boeing system is one of the possible options for launching the production of new ammunition for Ukraine and the US's Eastern European allies, sources in the industry said.
The M26 rocket motor is relatively affordable, and the GBU-39 costs about $40 a piece, making the GLSDB inexpensive and its main components readily available.
The GLSDB is guided by GPS, can overcome some electronic interference, can be used in all weather conditions and can be used against armored vehicles. The GBU-39, which will function as a GLSDB warhead, has small folding wings that allow it to reach a target over 100 km when launched from an aircraft and engage targets up to 90 cm in diameter.
Although several GLSDB units have already been produced, there are many logistical obstacles to formal procurement.
