Munitions

CBU-87 cluster munition

Also known as
  • CBU-87/B
  • CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
  • CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition
  • CEM

The CBU-87 cluster munition is a U.S. air-delivered Combined Effects Munition built around the SUU-65/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser and 202 BLU-97/B bomblets. It saw documented U.S. or NATO use in the 1990 Gulf War, Operation Allied Force, Afghanistan, and the 2003 Iraq War, while the related CBU-103/B added a Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser tail kit to the same CEM body.

CBU-87 cluster munition, Air-delivered cluster munition, Munitions
Image source: Cbu-87 cluster bomb.jpg

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Air-delivered cluster munition
Service note
1983-present; production dormant after 2003
Designed
Mid-1970s development start; development and testing from 1978 to 1982
Unit cost
About $12,010 per all-up CBU-87/B in FY1995 documents; Forecast International later cited $14,320 for a slightly smaller buy.
Produced
First deliveries in December 1983; production dormant after the latest order
Number built
At least 158,520 CBU-87/B weapons by January 1, 2003

Specifications

Weight
About 1,000 lb class; Forecast International lists 951 lb for CBU-87/B technical data
Dispenser
SUU-65/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser
Submunitions
202 BLU-97/B combined-effects bomblets
Dimensions
About 6 ft long and 15.61 in in diameter in Forecast International data
Release envelope
Forecast International lists SUU-65/B release altitude from 200 to 40,000 ft
Spin setting
Dispenser spin can be preset in 500-rpm increments up to 2,500 rpm
Guidance
Unguided in baseline form; the CBU-103/B derivative added WCMD guidance
Submunition Payload

The CBU-87/B combines a tactical munitions dispenser with a dense payload of BLU-97/B combined-effects bomblets.

Dispenser

SUU-65/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser.

Payload

202 BLU-97/B submunitions in each CBU-87/B.

Effects

BLU-97/B combines fragmentation, shaped-charge anti-armor, and zirconium incendiary effects.

Variants

CBU-87/B designations cover the baseline Combined Effects Munition body, while CBU-103/B applies the WCMD guidance tail-kit program to the CBU-87/B payload.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
CBU-87B/BVariant
CBU-87C/BVariant
CBU-87(D2)/BVariant
CBU-87(T-1)/BVariant
CBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser, Wind-corrected munition dispenser, MunitionsCBU-103 Wind-Corrected Munitions DispenserWCMD-guided derivative

Forecast International describes the CBU-103/B as the CBU-87/B fitted with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance kit.

Sources: CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition report

CBU-87/B training munitionVariant
Carried Submunitions

The CBU-87/B dispenser carries BLU-97/B bomblets as its combined-effects payload.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomblet, Cluster submunition, MunitionsBLU-97/B Combined Effects BombletCluster submunition

Each CBU-87/B carries 202 BLU-97/B submunitions inside the SUU-65/B dispenser.

Sources: CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition report, U.S. CBU series, HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

Carrier Aircraft

The CBU-87/B was cleared for multiple U.S. and NATO tactical aircraft, while the B-1B fact sheet lists CBU-87 cluster munitions among the bomber's internal loads.

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

The U.S. Air Force B-1B fact sheet says the bomber's internal bays can accommodate 30 CBU-87/89 cluster munitions or CBU-97 Sensor Fused Weapons.

Sources: B-1B Lancer

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

Human Rights Watch reported that F-16 aircraft dropped CBU-87 cluster bombs during Operation Allied Force and listed F-16s among aircraft approved for CBU-87 use.

Sources: HRW NATO Cluster Munitions in Yugoslavia, HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

A-10 Thunderbolt II, Close air support attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsA-10 Thunderbolt IIClose air support aircraft

Human Rights Watch listed the A-10 among aircraft approved for CBU-87 use.

Sources: HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

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

Human Rights Watch listed the B-52 among aircraft approved for CBU-87 use.

Sources: HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

Timeline

CBU-87 cluster munition Key Events

  1. Development begins

    Forecast International places the CBU-87/B program's development start in the mid-1970s, followed by development and testing from 1978 to 1982.

    Sources: CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition report

  2. First production deliveries

    Forecast International says first production deliveries of the CBU-87/B were made in December 1983.

    Sources: CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition report

  3. Large-scale Gulf War use

    Human Rights Watch reported that U.S. forces used 10,035 CBU-87s during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

    Sources: HRW Iraq Cluster Munition Hazard Briefing

  4. Operation Allied Force use

    Human Rights Watch documented U.S. and Dutch CBU-87 use during NATO's 1999 air campaign against Yugoslavia.

    Sources: HRW NATO Cluster Munitions in Yugoslavia, HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

  5. Afghanistan air campaign

    Human Rights Watch reported that U.S. forces used both older CBU-87 and newer CBU-103 cluster bombs in Afghanistan.

    Sources: HRW Fatally Flawed Afghanistan Cluster Bomb Report, HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan Backgrounder

  6. Production dormant

    Forecast International listed no new CBU-87/B orders and no 2003-2012 all-up weapon production forecast.

    Sources: CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition report

  7. CBU test footage released

    DVIDS documented 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron testing of CBU-87 and CBU-103 munitions at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

    Sources: Cluster Bomb Unit Testing And Training

Media

CBU-87 cluster munition Videos

CBU-87 cluster munition Images

CBU-87 cluster munition, Air-delivered cluster munition, Munitions - view 1
Source: CBU-87 b.jpg
Related Weapon Systems
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.
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.

Sources

CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition reportPublisher: Forecast International | Note: Supports CBU-87/B specifications, manufacturer context, production history, unit cost, production timeline, BLU-97/B payload, and the CBU-103/B derivative relationship. | Accessed: 2026-07-04U.S. CBU seriesPublisher: Designation-Systems | Note: Supports CBU-87 series identification, the SUU-65/B dispenser context, the 202 BLU-97/B payload, and the designation history for the CBU-87 family. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HRW Iraq Cluster Munition Hazard BriefingPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 1990 Gulf War direct use: reports that U.S. forces used 10,035 CBU-87s during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HRW NATO Cluster Munitions in YugoslaviaPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 1999 Kosovo War / Operation Allied Force direct use: documents U.S. F-15E and F-16 CBU-87 drops during NATO operations in Yugoslavia. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HRW Cluster Bombs in Afghanistan BackgrounderPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use by reporting CBU-87 drops by U.S. B-1 bombers and continued CBU-87 use, and also supports Kosovo CBU-87 expenditure totals plus aircraft compatibility and BLU-97/B payload context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HRW Fatally Flawed Afghanistan Cluster Bomb ReportPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2001 War in Afghanistan direct use: reports that U.S. forces used CBU-87 and CBU-103 cluster bombs in Afghanistan and describes CBU-87/CBU-103 payload and footprint context. | Accessed: 2026-07-04HRW Off Target Iraq Air War AppendixPublisher: Human Rights Watch | Note: Supports 2003 Iraq War direct use: lists 118 unguided CBU-87 cluster bombs among U.S. Air Force munitions used in the 2003 Iraq air war. | Accessed: 2026-07-04B-1B LancerPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports carrier-compatibility context: the B-1B fact sheet lists 30 CBU-87, CBU-89, or CBU-97 cluster munitions among the bomber's armament. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Cluster Bomb Unit Testing And TrainingPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports 2022 U.S. Air Force test footage showing CBU-87 and CBU-103 testing by the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at the Nevada Test and Training Range. | Accessed: 2026-07-04Cbu-87 cluster bomb.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-license context for the primary CBU-87 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04CBU-87 b.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and public-license context for the secondary CBU-87 gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-04