GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit

Also known as

GBU-15
GBU-15 GWS
GBU-15 Guided Weapon System
GBU-15 Modular Guided Weapon System

The GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit is a U.S. unpowered glide bomb built for man-in-the-loop television or imaging-infrared guidance against high-value targets. The Air Force fact sheet says Boeing North American built the legacy version and Raytheon Systems built the enhanced version, while the weapon is now only deployed from the F-15E Strike Eagle.

GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit, Air-to-surface guided glide bomb, Munitions

Image source: GBU-15 xxl.jpg

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: United States
Built by: Boeing North AmericanRaytheon Systems
Type: Air-to-surface guided glide bomb
Service note: 1983-present
Designed: 1974
Unit cost: TV seeker: $242,500; imaging infrared seeker: $245,000

Specifications

Length: 12 ft 10.5 in (3.91 m)
Launch weight: 2,500 lb (1,125 kg)
Diameter: 18 in (45.7 cm)
Wingspan: 4 ft 11 in (1.49 m)
Range: 5-15 nautical miles
Ceiling: 30,000-plus feet (9,091 m)
Guidance: Television or imaging infrared seeker with man-in-the-loop control
Warhead options: Mk 84 general-purpose or BLU-109 penetrating bombs

Carrier Aircraft

The Air Force says the GBU-15 was designed for multiple aircraft, but it is now only deployed from the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Carrier	Carrier type	Carriage evidence
F-15E Strike Eagle	Strike fighter	The Air Force fact sheet says the GBU-15 was designed for the F-15E, F-111F, and F-4, and that the Air Force is currently only deploying it from the F-15E Strike Eagle. Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet

Carrier

Carrier type

Carriage evidence

F-15E Strike Eagle

Strike fighter

The Air Force fact sheet says the GBU-15 was designed for the F-15E, F-111F, and F-4, and that the Air Force is currently only deploying it from the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet

Timeline

GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Key Events

Jan 1, 1974
Development begins
The Air Force fact sheet says development of the GBU-15 began in 1974.
Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet
Jan 1, 1975
Flight testing begins
The same fact sheet says flight testing started in 1975.
Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet
Jan 1, 1983
Legacy version enters service
The fact sheet says the legacy TV-guided version entered service in 1983.
Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet
Jan 1, 2001
Enhanced version enters service
The fact sheet says the enhanced imaging-infrared version entered service in 2001.
Sources: GBU-15 Guided Bomb Unit Fact Sheet

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service: Legacy version entered service in 1983 and the enhanced version in 2001; the Air Force currently deploys the weapon only from the F-15E Strike Eagle.
Used by: United States Air Force

Media