CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition

{{Short description|United States Air Force cluster bomb}} {{Infobox weapon | name = CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition | image = Cbu-87 cluster bomb.jpg | image_size = 300 | alt = | caption = CBU-103 (CBU-87 with Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser kit) | type = Cluster munition | origin = United States  | is_explosive = y | is_missile = y  | service = Since 1986 | used_by = {{ubl|United States|Egypt|Netherlands|Saudi Arabia|Turkey}} | wars = {{ubl|Gulf War|Operation Allied Force|2003 invasion of Iraq|Operation Sinai}}  | designer = Honeywell Defense and Marine Systems | design_date = Early 1980s | manufacturer = Northrop Grumman | developed_from = | developed_into = | unit_cost = | production_date = | number = | variants =  | spec_label = | mass = {{cvt|430|kg|lb|order=flip}} | length = {{cvt|2.33|m|ftin|order=flip}} | width = | height = | diameter = {{cvt|396|mm|in|order=flip}}  | filling = 202 BLU-97/B submunitions bomblets | filling_weight = | detonation = | yield =  | wingspan = | propellant = | ceiling = | altitude = | boost = | depth = | accuracy = | launch_platform = AV-8B, A-10, B-1B, B-52, F-15E, F-16, F/A-18C/D & F/A-18E/F | transport =  | ref = Janes<ref name=Janes>{{Citation |author=Janes |url=https://customer.janes.com/display/JALW2709-JALW |title=CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munition (CEM) |date=14 June 2024 |website=Janes Weapons: Air Launched |publisher=Jane's Group UK Limited. |publication-place=Coulsdon, Surrey |url-access=subscription |access-date=29 June 2025}}</ref> }} {{Infobox weapon | name = BLU-97/B CEM | image = | image_size = 300 | alt = | caption = | type = Cluster submunition | origin = United States  | is_explosive = y | is_missile = y  | designer = | design_date = Early 1980s | manufacturer = General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems | developed_from = | developed_into = | unit_cost = | production_date = | number = | variants =  | spec_label = | mass = {{cvt|1.5|kg|lb|order=flip}} | length = {{ubl|{{cvt|169|mm|in|order=flip}} stowed|{{cvt|356|mm|in|order=flip}} extended}} | width = | height = | diameter = {{cvt|64|mm|in|order=flip}}  | filling = 70/30 cyclotol/zirconium | filling_weight = {{cvt|287|g|oz|order=flip}} | detonation = | yield =  | ref = Janes<ref name=Janes/> }} The '''CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition''' ('''CEM''') is a cluster bomb used by the United States Air Force, developed by Aerojet General/Honeywell and introduced in 1986 to replace the earlier cluster bombs used in the Vietnam War. CBU stands for Cluster Bomb Unit. When the CBU-87 is used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser guidance tail kit, it becomes much more accurate, and is designated '''CBU-103'''; and when the CBU-87 is used in conjunction with the Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser-Extended Range guidance tail kit, it is designated '''CBU-113/B'''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Parsch |first1=Andreas |title=BAK to BSU/BSG - Equipment Listing |url=https://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/asetds/u-b.html |publisher=Designation-Systems |access-date=16 October 2025}}</ref>

The basic CBU-87 is designed to be dropped from an aircraft at any altitude and any air speed. It is a free-falling bomb and relies on the aircraft to aim it before it drops; once dropped it needs no further instruction, as opposed to guided munitions or smart bombs. The bomb can be dropped by a variety of modern-day aircraft. It is {{convert|7|ft|7|in|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, has a diameter of {{convert|16|in|cm|abbr=off|sp=us}}, and weighs roughly {{convert|951|lb|kg}}. The price is US$14,000 per bomb.{{Citation needed|date=July 2012}}

Each CBU-87 consists of an SUU-65B canister, a fuze with 12 time delay options and 202 submunitions (or bomblets) designated BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb. Each bomblet is a yellow cylinder with a length of 20 centimeters and a diameter of 6 centimeters. The BLU-97/B bomblets are designed to be used against armor, people and soft skinned targets and consist of a shaped charge, a scored steel fragmentation case and a zirconium ring for incendiary effects. The CBU-87 can also be equipped with an optional FZU-39/B proximity sensor with 10 altitude selections.

When dropped from an aircraft, the bomb starts spinning. There are 6 speeds that can adjust the bomb's rate of spin. After it drops to a certain altitude, the canister breaks open and the submunitions are released. Each bomblet has a ring of tabs at the tail end; these orient the bomblet and deploy an inflatable decelerator to decrease the falling speed of the bomblet. When the submunitions hit the ground, they will cover a large area and the CBU-87 can be adjusted so it can cover a smaller or wider area. Depending on the rate of spin and the altitude at which the canister opens, it can cover an area between 20×20 meters (low release altitude and a slow rate of spin) to 120×240 meters (high release altitude and a high rate of spin).

Manufacturers and the Department of Defense have claimed that each bomb's failure rate is about 5%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=502 |title=DoD News Briefing, Tuesday, June 22, 1999 |access-date=May 15, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509081907/http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=502 |archive-date=May 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> This equates to about 10 bomblets not exploding on impact of the 202 bomblets dropped. Landmine Action claimed the failure rate of the BLU-97/Bs used in the Kosovo campaign was higher, between 7 and 8 percent.<ref>{{cite report |url=http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/resource.asp?resID=1035 |publisher=Landmine Action |title= Cluster munitions in Kosovo: Analysis of use, contamination and casualties |date=February 2007 |access-date=2007-08-06 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070928044717/http://www.landmineaction.org/resources/resource.asp?resID=1035 |archive-date=2007-09-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Operational use== During Operation Desert Storm, the US Air Force dropped 10,035 CBU-87s. During Operation Allied Force, the US dropped about 1,100 cluster bombs, mostly CBU-87s.

On 7 May 1999, a CBU-87 was used in one of the most serious incidents involving civilian deaths and cluster bombs, the Niš cluster bombing.

==See also==

- CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, a cluster bomb with smart submunitions.

==References== {{Reflist}}

== Bibliography == *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120206185844/http://tech.military.com/equipment/view/88686/Military.com/nascarMilitary.com "Equipment guide." Military.com. 25 Mar 2007] *[http://www.vipersinthestorm.com/html/weapons_bunker_-_page_3.html Vipers in the Storm, "Weapons Bunker." 25 Mar 2007]

==External links== * [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/cbu-87.htm CBU-87/B Combined Effects Munitions (CEM) - Global Security]

Category:Aerial bombs of the United States Category:Cluster munitions Category:Explosive weapons Category:Military equipment introduced in the 1980s