Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the cluster bombs & dispensers category.
01 / Overview
BLU-97/B Combined Effects Bomb
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1980–
Quantity
2,000,000
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS · COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the cluster bombs & dispensers category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- Munition Typesubmunition
- Service Entry Year1980
- Total Weight1.54 kg
- Diameter63.5 mm
- In ServiceYes
◈Guidance5MOD.5
- GuidedNo
- Guidance Typefree-fall
- GPS / INS GuidanceNo
- Laser GuidanceNo
- Imaging InfraredNo
▣Warhead & Effect6MOD.6
- Warhead Typeshaped charge, fragmentation, incendiary
- Explosive Filler Weight0.287 kg
- Filler TypeCyclotol (standard), PBXN-107 (IM version)
- Penetrator / Bunker-BusterNo
- Cluster MunitionYes
- Thermobaric / Fuel-AirNo
◇Delivery2MOD.2
◆Platform4MOD.4
- Compatible AircraftB-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, F-117 Nighthawk, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, A-10 Thunderbolt II, AV-8B Harrier II
- Internal CarriageNo
- Low-Drag BodyNo
- Fin / Tail Typeballute (inflatable retarder)
▤Production2MOD.2
- Total Production2,000,000
- Variants1
⬢Warhead Detail2MOD.2
- Detonation Mechanism / Fuze6 G force sensing, spin-armed
- Explosive Filler Weight0.287 kg
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1980Production started
46
years in service
2,000,000
units produced
10
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Operators
Operator Countries10country
05 / MASS Score
CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS RANKING Cluster Bombs & Dispensers · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
3CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS1COLD WAR · CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS525UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS3PERFORMANCE/PRICE · CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theCluster Bombs & Dispenserscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
An air-dropped or artillery-fired munition containing multiple smaller submunitions designed to disperse over a wide area, often with high dud rates posing post-conflict hazards.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources