During the 33rd International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, Swedish company Saab signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korean Hanwha Aerospace concerning the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB).
The agreement aims to explore the possibility of integrating the GLSDB with the Chunmoo rocket and artillery launcher produced by Hanwha Aerospace.
The GLSDB rocket, used to launch the SDB I aerial bomb with the Chunmoo launcher, is the subject of the agreement between Saab and Hanwha Aerospace
“With this agreement we are excited to explore how we can bring the long-range precision of GLSDB to current and future users of the Chunmoo launcher. Together these would mean even more great capability is available to those who want a strike capability unmatched by traditional rocket or gun artillery,” says Görgen Johansson, head of Saab’s business area Dynamics.
The GLSDB is a precision long-range munition capable of striking targets more than 150 km away. Together with Boeing, Saab developed the GLSDB using the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB I), originally designed for air release. The bomb is carried to the proper altitude by a rocket and then continues in a gliding flight using deployable wings.
Saab representatives state that the GLSDB offers the best cost-to-effect ratio among weapon systems of its class. With a range of up to 150 km, it provides the capability to strike high-value enemy targets with an accuracy of up to 1 meter, at a cost lower than all other solutions currently available on the market. The low cost of this solution results from the integration of two combat-proven systems – the Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) developed by Boeing and the M26 rocket designed for launch from MLRS-type launchers.
The GLSDB missile launcher mounted inside a container – this was the solution presented by Saab at this year’s MSPO exhibition / Photos: Grzegorz Sobczak
By using the combat-proven SDB I aerial bomb, the GLSDB missile offers unique operational capabilities thanks to technology tested by the U.S. Air Force. With advanced communication systems and security protocols, the GLSDB ensures combat capability even in areas subjected to GPS jamming.
An important feature of the GLSDB is its ability to integrate with multiple platforms such as HIMARS, M270, and Chunmoo launchers. This allows the use of assets already in service with armed forces while enhancing their operational capabilities. In the case of HIMARS and M270 launchers, the GLSDB can serve as ammunition that extends the range of these systems while simultaneously reducing the risk of counter-battery fire or drone attacks.
If trials of GLSDB rockets launched from Chunmoo prove successful and the system is adopted for Korean launchers, it will also open up new opportunities for expanding the range of ammunition used in Poland’s Homar-K systems, which are the Polish version of Chunmoo.
It is also worth noting that Saab presented an interesting GLSDB missile launcher solution at MSPO 2025. A six-rail launcher was mounted inside an opening container, which in its closed position closely resembles a standard shipping container. This makes the launcher difficult for the enemy to identify, including drones equipped with electro-optical sensors.