Munitions

CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser

Also known as
  • CBU-103/B
  • CBU-87/B with WCMD

The CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser is the WCMD-equipped version of the U.S. CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition, pairing the free-fall cluster bomb body with a wind-correcting tail kit for more accurate delivery. Human Rights Watch reported CBU-103 use in Afghanistan and cited U.S. Air Force reporting that CBU-103s were among the cluster munitions used in Iraq.

CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, Munitions
Image source: DVIDS B-1B CBU-103 live fire image

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Wind-corrected munition dispenser
Service note
Late 1990s-present
Unit cost
WCMD baseline kit about $23,073 per unit in FY2005 procurement data; all-up CBU-103 cost not separately standardized
Produced
Late 1990s-present

Specifications

Weight
About 951 lb (431 kg)
Length
About 7 ft 8 in (2.3 m)
Diameter
About 15 in (38 cm)
Base dispenser
CBU-87/B CEM with SUU-65/B tactical munitions dispenser
Payload
202 BLU-97/B combined-effects bomblets
Guidance
WCMD tail kit corrects launch transients, ballistic errors, and wind drift
Accuracy
Baseline WCMD guidance cited at about 26 m (85 ft) CEP
Stand-off range
About 16 km (10 miles) from a 40,000 ft release in baseline WCMD configuration
WCMD Conversion Logic

The CBU-103 is best read as a guided conversion of the CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition rather than a clean-sheet bomb body.

Base body

CBU-87/B CEM with the SUU-65/B tactical munitions dispenser and 202 BLU-97/B combined-effects bomblets.

Guidance kit

WCMD replaces the tail section with an inertial guidance package and flip-out control fins that correct release errors and winds aloft.

Family position

CBU-104 and CBU-105 use the same WCMD designation logic on the CBU-89 Gator and CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon families.

Variants

The CBU-103 designation applies the WCMD tail-kit family to the CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition; adjacent WCMD designations use the same guidance-kit concept on other tactical munition dispensers.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
CBU-87 cluster munition, Air-delivered cluster munition, MunitionsCBU-87 cluster munitionBase CEM dispenser

The CBU-103/B is the WCMD-guided derivative of the CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition.

Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

CBU-103A/BCBU-87A/B WCMD configuration

Designation-Systems lists CBU-103A/B as the WCMD configuration associated with CBU-87A/B.

Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

CBU-103B/BCBU-87B/B WCMD configuration

Designation-Systems lists CBU-103B/B as the WCMD configuration associated with CBU-87B/B and BLU-97A/B bomblets.

Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

CBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, MunitionsCBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions DispenserWCMD Gator mine-dispenser member

The CBU-104/B applies the WCMD tail kit to the CBU-89/B Gator mine dispenser rather than the CBU-87/B CEM body.

Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

CBU-105 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, Sensor-fuzed cluster munition, MunitionsCBU-105 Sensor Fuzed WeaponWCMD sensor-fuzed family member

The CBU-105/B applies the WCMD tail kit to the CBU-97/B Sensor Fuzed Weapon family.

Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

Carrier Aircraft

The B-1B Lancer fact sheet lists CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers in the bomber's armament.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
B-1B Lancer, Long-range, multi-role supersonic bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-1B LancerLong-range bomber

The B-1B fact sheet lists CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers in the bomber's armament.

Sources: B-1B Lancer

F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconMultirole fighter

Lockheed Martin reported CBU-103/104/105 WCMD capability in a Block 40/42 F-16 software update and later BRU-57 certification for the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD series on Block 40/42/50/52 F-16 aircraft; DVIDS also documents a CBU-103 being loaded onto an F-16 at Osan.

Sources: Lockheed Martin F-16 smart weapons update, DVIDS CBU-103 F-16 load crew image, Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

B-52 Stratofortress, Long-range heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-52 StratofortressLong-range bomber

Air Force Global Strike Command reported that 23rd Bomb Squadron B-52H crews carried and dropped live CBU-103 munitions during night training at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Sources: AFGSC B-52 CBU-103 training mission, DVIDS B-52 CBU-103 load crew image

Timeline

CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser Key Events

  1. WCMD development begins

    Designation-Systems places WCMD development in the 1995-1996 period as a guidance-kit program for tactical munition dispensers.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

  2. Low-rate production starts

    Designation-Systems says Lockheed Martin began low-rate WCMD production in 1998.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

  3. Full-rate WCMD production

    Designation-Systems records full-rate WCMD production beginning in 2001 after operational readiness in 2000.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin WCMD designations

  4. First combat use in Afghanistan

    Human Rights Watch reported that the United States used the newer CBU-103 in Afghanistan and described that campaign as the model's first combat use.

    Sources: HRW Fatally Flawed Afghanistan Cluster Bomb Report, UK Hansard Afghanistan Cluster Bomb Policy

  5. CBU-103 use reported in Iraq

    Human Rights Watch cited U.S. Air Force reporting that Iraq cluster-bomb expenditure included 818 CBU-103s.

    Sources: HRW Air Force WCMD procurement requests

  6. F-16 BRU-57 certification announced

    Lockheed Martin said the U.S. Air Force certified the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD series on Block 40/42/50/52 F-16 aircraft using the BRU-57 rack.

    Sources: Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification release

Media

CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser Images

CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, Munitions - view 1
Source: DVIDS B-1B CBU-103 live fire image
CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, Munitions - view 2
Source: DVIDS B-1B CBU-103 live fire image
CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, Munitions - view 3
Source: CBU-87 b.jpg
CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, Munitions - view 4
Source: CBU-87 xxl.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
CBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, MunitionsMunitionsCBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions DispenserWind-corrected munition dispenserThe CBU-104 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser is the WCMD-equipped version of the U.S. CBU-89 Gator mine dispenser. It keeps the 72 BLU-91 anti-armor and 22 BLU-92 anti-personnel mine payload while adding an inertial tail kit that corrects release errors and winds aloft, giving the Gator family a more accurate medium- or high-altitude delivery option. Public sources document the CBU-104 as a certified F-16/BRU-57 and B-1B weapon, while available conflict-use sources identify other WCMD variants rather than direct CBU-104 combat employment.
CBU-89 Gator mine, Air-delivered scatterable mine cluster munition, MunitionsMunitionsCBU-89 Gator mineAir-delivered scatterable mine cluster munitionThe CBU-89 Gator mine is a U.S. Air Force air-delivered scatterable mine cluster munition that uses the SUU-64/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser to lay mixed antitank and antipersonnel minefields. GAO and Human Rights Watch sources document its 1990 Gulf War employment, while reference sources describe a 1,000-pound-class weapon carrying 72 BLU-91/B antitank mines, 22 BLU-92/B antipersonnel mines, and an optional FZU-39 proximity sensor.

Sources

B-1B LancerPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports the carrier-aircraft relationship by listing CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispensers in the B-1B's armament. | Accessed: 2026-06-27HRW Air Force WCMD procurement requestsPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct use: cites U.S. Air Force reporting that Iraq cluster-bomb expenditure included 818 CBU-103 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispensers. | Accessed: 2026-07-01HRW Fatally Flawed Afghanistan Cluster Bomb ReportPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: reports that U.S. forces used CBU-103 cluster bombs during the Afghanistan air campaign and describes Afghanistan as the model's first combat use. | Accessed: 2026-07-01UK Hansard Afghanistan Cluster Bomb PolicyPublisher: UK Parliament Hansard | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: a UK minister stated that CBU-103 cluster munitions had been used in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Lockheed Martin WCMD designationsPublisher: Designation-Systems | Note: Supports WCMD family designation logic, CBU-103/B relation to CBU-87/B, CBU-103A/B and CBU-103B/B subdesignations, baseline WCMD guidance performance, and development/production timeline. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Lockheed Martin BRU-57 certification releasePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports F-16 carriage context for the CBU-103/104/105/107 WCMD series using the BRU-57 rack on Block 40/42/50/52 aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Lockheed Martin F-16 smart weapons updatePublisher: Lockheed Martin | Note: Supports F-16 compatibility context by listing CBU-103/104/105 WCMD weapons as enabled by a USAF Block 40/42 F-16C/D software update. | Accessed: 2026-07-01AFGSC B-52 CBU-103 training missionPublisher: U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command | Note: Supports B-52 carriage and live training-release context for CBU-103 munitions. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS B-1B CBU-103 live fire imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports primary image provenance and B-1B loading context for CBU-103 munitions; DVIDS marks the U.S. Air Force photo as public domain. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS B-52 CBU-103 load crew imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and B-52 loading context for a CBU-103; DVIDS marks the U.S. Air Force photo as public domain. | Accessed: 2026-07-01DVIDS CBU-103 F-16 load crew imagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and F-16 loading context for a CBU-103; DVIDS marks the U.S. Air Force photo as public domain. | Accessed: 2026-07-01Air Force Magazine CBU-103 referencePublisher: Air Force Magazine | Note: Supports CBU-103/104/105 WCMD family background, contractor names, dimensions, weight, payload, and performance figures for the WCMD-equipped CBU-103/B. | Accessed: 2026-06-27WCMD Procurement ProgramPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports WCMD procurement cost and Lockheed Martin Orlando production context for the CBU-103 tail-kit program. | Accessed: 2026-06-27CBU-87 b.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and the file description linking the CBU-87 family to the WCMD tail kit used for CBU-103/104/105 variants. | Accessed: 2026-06-27CBU-87 xxl.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the alternate CBU-87 family photograph shown in the gallery. | Accessed: 2026-06-27