CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon

The CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon is an air-dropped guided bomb containing metal penetrator rods of various sizes. It was designed to attack targets where an explosive effect may be objectionable, such as fuel storage tanks or chemical weapon stockpiles in civilian areas.

The weapon consists of a Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser-equipped SUU-66/B Tactical Munitions Dispenser containing 3,750 non-explosive steel and tungsten penetrator rods of various sizes.

There is no other version of the CBU-107. The weapon is notable for the speed with which it was developed and fielded, a total of 98 days. This was to meet an urgent operation requirement and earned the development team several awards.

The CBU-107 was first used in an attack on the Iraqi Ministry of Information on March 28, 2003, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The targets were two antenna arrays, which were both destroyed with little damage to the MOI or adjacent buildings.

Eglin munitions experts gave America’s warfighters this new weapon that destroys targets with kinetic energy rather than explosives, and they had the original potential accessible at mere 98 days after getting the demand.

The Passive Attack Weapon houses various sizes of penetrator rods inside what some called a “large water heater with fins.” Guided by a Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser tail kit to help with accuracy, the munition’s full production of weapons was completed in 180 days.

The way the PAW works is after being dropped from an aircraft, the weapon’s outer skin separates at a preset altitude, allowing the individual penetrator rods to free fall to the earth and penetrates their target. With this munition, there is no explosive warhead and least collateral damage.

The CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon can demolish assumed biological and chemical amenities without scattering dangerous debris. It is filled with 3,700 non-explosive penetrator rods. The weapon is designed for use against targets such as biological weapons stockpiles or laboratories where explosives are objectionable.

The weapon holds 350 14-in. rods, 1,000 7-in. rods, and 2,400 2-in. rods.

Given the first tasking 10 September 2002, experts from the Air Armament Center, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center, Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate and 53rd Wing had developed, tested and delivered the new CBU-107 Passive Attack Weapon by December.

The weapon’s full production was completed 09 March 2003. The Air Force used the new weapon following a 98-day, $40 million development program.

The new weapon is designed for use in an environment where war fighters need to immobilize a target without destroying its surroundings. Some examples include storage facilities, fuel storage depots, power substations or antenna fixtures. It’s another way to accomplish a battlefield effect without an outburst. They give the potential to attack non-hardened surface targets, and do so with a minimum of collateral damage.

The PAW could be dropped on a fuel drum, making a puncture in it and letting the fuel to drain without catching on fire or leaving unexploded weapons on the battle field for ground troops to worry about.

The $40 million rapid response development made its combat debut in Operation Iraqi Freedom, although specific uses of the PAW have not been disclosed. Two years earlier, Air Combat Command discussed a need for such a weapon like the PAW and Air Force Research Laboratory experts worked on an early design, but funding was never approved.

The fast turn from perception to production weapon was achievable due to a design philosophy the munitions directorate used from the start. Wherever possible, existing systems and sub-systems were used, saving dollars and the time required to certify the weapon for aircraft carriage and delivery. Most importantly, the effort showed that the munitions directorate, working with Team Eglin, was able to step-up to meet the warfighter’s needs quickly and efficiently.

General Dynamics experts made the kinetic energy penetrator payload and all of its supporting structure to hold it inside. Lockheed Martin workers produced the WCMD guidance kit and people from Textron Systems produced the tactical munitions dispenser kit.

The CBU-107 has the same shape and weight as a CBU-103 or a CBU-105 bomb. This saved the developmental team time because they didn’t have to perform flight separation checks on the new weapon and the aircraft software package is the same. From a load crew’s standpoint, they know exactly how to do this because it’s the same as the existing WCMD family of weapons. And same for the aircrews; they know how to deliver it, because they deliver it the same as the others.

Although the program was a success, there is nothing in the way of a follow-on program instantly coming from the Air Force. Right now all planned production has been completed. However, in the wake of the current combat operations, each of the services will be reviewing their performance and their capabilities versus what they needed.