MSPO 2025: Saab extends HIMARS deep strike capability to 150 km with Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb.

At MSPO 2025, Saab displayed the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), developed in cooperation with Boeing to adapt the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb for ground launch by combining it with the M26 rocket motor. Saab emphasized the operational advantages of the system, which include a claimed precision of one meter, the ability to engage targets from any direction, the option to fire multiple rounds at once against separate targets, and adaptability through various available configurations such as laser-guided or low-collateral-damage models.
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At MSPO 2025, Saab illustrated that the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) can be integrated into various launch platforms by displaying it next to a truck-mounted mock-up featuring a 12-tube container launcher. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The idea behind the GLSDB is to extend the effectiveness of rocket artillery by forcing adversaries to displace ammunition depots, air defense systems, and command centers further from the frontline, increasing logistical strain, and complementing existing rocket systems with a weapon capable of approaching targets from unexpected directions through gliding trajectories. Therefore, the GLSDB integrates a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb with a rocket booster to deliver a glide weapon capable of striking targets at ranges of up to 150 kilometers. The weapon carries a 93-kilogram multipurpose warhead containing 16 kilograms of explosive and is able to penetrate more than 90 centimeters of reinforced concrete.

Guidance is provided through an advanced GPS-aided inertial navigation system with anti-jam features, offering an advertised accuracy of around one meter. After separation from the rocket at altitude, the bomb deploys wings to extend its range and provide maneuverability, allowing for engagement from different angles, including strikes against targets behind the launcher. Programmable electronic fuzes allow for options such as surface impact, proximity detonation, or delayed penetration, enabling use against a range of target types. Variants of the system include the Focused Lethality Munition for reduced collateral effects and a laser-guided version for engaging moving targets, further extending operational flexibility.

Before entering mass production, the GLSDB went through a series of development trials. Saab and Boeing reported initial successful demonstrations in 2015 that highlighted the weapon’s ability to conduct 360-degree attack profiles, including circling back to engage targets positioned behind the launcher. In 2017, a test demonstrated the capability to strike a moving target at 100 kilometers with the assistance of a semi-active laser seeker. In 2019, a long-range test conducted at the Andøya Test Center in Norway successfully struck a sea-based target at 130 kilometers using a containerized launcher. These tests validated the system’s capacity to maneuver and adjust its flight path compared to conventional ballistic projectiles, which follow predictable arcs. Unlike traditional rockets, the GLSDB separates from its booster at altitude, deploys wings, and glides toward the target, allowing it to adjust routes around natural terrain and defensive obstacles.

The system entered combat service in Ukraine following U.S. deliveries. By February 2024, remnants of GLSDB were found near Kreminna in Luhansk, marking its first confirmed operational use. Ukrainian forces employed the system against Russian positions but reported that its effectiveness was reduced by Russian electronic warfare that disrupted satellite navigation and compromised accuracy. In contrast, the air-dropped Small Diameter Bomb maintained a higher success rate under similar conditions, suggesting that the ground-launched version was more exposed to countermeasures due to its predictable glide path and detectable trajectory. In response, Saab and Boeing improved the GLSDB's jamming resistance to jamming by reinforcing system connections and adapting electronics. By March 2025, the United States resumed shipments of these modified GLSDB rounds to Ukraine. Reports suggested that the updated versions reached speeds of up to Mach 5 during the boost phase and maintained precision despite electronic interference, making Ukraine's experience the first test case to shape further development aimed at ensuring a long-term operational relevance.

Industrial decisions have been central to the program’s progression. In June 2025, Saab selected Anduril Rocket Motor Systems to provide new solid rocket motors, replacing reliance on legacy M26 rocket stockpiles that are no longer in production. Anduril announced a $75 million investment in expanding its McHenry facility, Mississippi, supported by a $14.3 million Defense Production Act award, with plans to produce up to 6,000 rocket motors annually starting in 2026. The company has implemented advanced manufacturing processes such as single-piece-flow assembly and bladeless high-speed mixers to improve efficiency and reduce costs. Its 2023 acquisition of Adranos provided access to ALITEC propellant technology, which offers greater efficiency compared to previous formulations. Saab is also establishing GLSDB production facilities in Grayling, Michigan, with first systems expected from this line within a year. These developments show a shift from recycling legacy motors to establishing new manufacturing capacity to ensure future availability and supply security.

At MSPO 2025, a truck-mounted mock-up featuring a 12-tube container launcher was displayed to illustrate that the GLSDB can be integrated into several launch platforms, which broadens its deployment options. It is compatible with M270 MLRS, M142 HIMARS, South Korea’s Chunmoo, and a containerized launcher resembling a 20-foot shipping container. The container system can also be deployed at sea, expanding operational possibilities. The system increases the reach of MLRS and HIMARS from approximately 85 kilometers with GMLRS to about 150 kilometers, enabling forces to conduct longer-range strikes without acquiring entirely new launcher systems. Multiple rounds can be fired in coordinated salvos to achieve near-simultaneous impacts, complicating adversary defenses. Container-based launchers allow for concealed or fortified deployments, making detection and counter-battery fire more difficult. These features position the GLSDB as a flexible precision strike option that supplements existing artillery systems.

Cost remains a critical factor in the GLSDB program. Production of M26 rockets ended in 2001 after more than 500,000 were built, leaving over 400,000 in storage by 2004. The stockpiles became costly to maintain or dispose of due to restrictions related to their original submunition payloads. By combining surplus M26 rockets with SDBs priced at approximately $40,000, Saab and Boeing introduced a precision strike weapon significantly cheaper than alternatives such as ATACMS, which is often valued at over $1 million per missile, or the Storm Shadow cruise missile, estimated at $2.5 million. Although the GLSDB has a smaller warhead than many long-range strike systems, its precision, range, and adaptability provide armed forces with a cost-effective complement to higher-end systems. It is not intended as a replacement for heavy long-range missiles but as a way to extend the capabilities of rocket artillery by providing affordable, accurate, and flexible options for striking targets beyond conventional artillery range.