US Restarts GLSDB Shipments to Ukraine After Upgrades to Counter Russian Jamming

The United States is set to resume shipments of Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) to Ukraine after making improvements to counter Russian electronic jamming, Reuters reported on March 13.

The delivery comes amid reports that Ukraine has exhausted its supply of Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which have a similar range. The US originally purchased the GLSDB munitions under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, an effort that has facilitated nearly $33.2 billion in arms and military equipment for Kyiv.

According to Reuters, the decision to restart deliveries follows an agreement by the administration of US President Donald Trump to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This move came after Kyiv expressed support for Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.

In recent weeks, 19 GLSDBs were test-fired to evaluate the effectiveness of modifications aimed at enhancing their resistance to Russian jamming. The upgrades reportedly strengthened internal connections within the weapon to improve its performance in combat conditions.

The GLSDB, developed jointly by SAAB AB and Boeing, was designed before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The weapon combines the GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb with the M26 rocket motor, providing an extended range of approximately 100 miles (161 km). Unlike traditional artillery, it features small wings that allow it to glide toward its target, maneuvering around obstacles such as mountainous terrain and air defenses.

However, previous reports indicated that Russian electronic warfare had disrupted the weapon’s navigation system, reducing its accuracy. Jamming, a tactic used by Russian forces across various military systems, involves broadcasting powerful energy signals to interfere with GPS and radio-based guidance. Similar techniques have been used against Ukrainian radios, drones, and GPS-guided Excalibur artillery shells.

With a stockpile of GLSDBs already in Europe, Ukrainian forces could deploy the upgraded munitions in combat soon, according to sources cited by Reuters.

Previously, it was reported that the US Treasury confirmed that a license allowing energy-related transactions with Russian financial institutions expired as scheduled this week.