BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb

The BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb is the submunition used in several cluster bomb type weapon systems. When the bomblets fall, they separate from the main bomb and independently free fall to the ground. They contain an inflatable bag (ballute) on the top of them, which slows them down and spreads them out. As the bomblets descend, they experience g-forces. Once they reach a minimum of 6 Gs they arm themselves. As the bomblets fall, they are also spinning as well. Arming takes about 2.6 seconds. They have a combined shaped charge, fragmentation and incendiary effect on the target. It is very effective against and mainly used for anti-personnel, anti-materiel, and anti-armor.

In 2003 humanitarian groups expressed concern that the BLC-97/B bomblets were the same size and color as food rations given to children in Afghanistan.

Although the latter are square and the former cylindrical, both are dropped from U.S. planes and both are yellow so that they are easy to spot on the ground. The United States responded to the outcry by changing the color of future food packages and warning civilians through announcements and flyers.170 Pentagon officials also said that the packages had not been dropped in the same areas as cluster bombs. "[D]espite the similarity in colors, it's very, very unlikely that a person would pick up a cluster bomb thinking it was a packet of food," Rear Adm. Craig Quigley, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, said. There are various other cylindrical yellow items in Afghanistan, such as water bottles and soda cans, which could be mistaken for unexploded bomblets by children.

Specifications

 * Length:
 * Stored: 16.8 cm (6.6 in)
 * Deployed (w/o retarder canopy): 22.6 cm (8.9 in)
 * Diameter: 63.5 mm (2.5 in)
 * Weight: 1.54 kg (3.4 lb)
 * Explosive:
 * Standard: 287 g (0.63 lb) Cyclotol
 * Insensitive Munitions (IM) version: PBXN-107
 * Warhead: Shaped charge, fragmenting casing and incendiary zirconium ring.

Weapon systems

 * CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
 * AGM-154A Joint Standoff Weapon
 * RGM/UGM-109D Tomahawk
 * AGM-137 TSSAM