Data Quality85%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the cluster bombs & dispensers category.
01 / Overview
CBU-55
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1960–1975
Operators
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS · EARLY COLD WAR
1
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
55
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
◎General6MOD.6
- Munition Typefuel-air explosive cluster bomb
- Service Entry Year1971
- Total Weight340 kg
- Length2.34 m
- Diameter406 mm
- In ServiceYes
◈Guidance5MOD.5
- GuidedNo
- Guidance Typeunguided
- GPS / INS GuidanceNo
- Laser GuidanceNo
- Imaging InfraredNo
▣Warhead & Effect7MOD.7
- Warhead Typethermobaric
- Explosive Filler Weight340 kg
- Filler Typepropane
- Penetrator / Bunker-BusterNo
- Cluster MunitionYes
- Submunitions3
- Thermobaric / Fuel-AirYes
◇Delivery3MOD.3
- Stand-OffNo
- Wing Kit (glide)No
- Max Release Altitude6,096 m
◆Platform4MOD.4
- Compatible Aircrafthelicopters, low-speed aircraft, high-speed aircraft
- Internal CarriageNo
- Low-Drag BodyNo
- Fin / Tail Typefolding tailfins
▤Production2MOD.2
- Operators1
- Variants2
⬢Warhead Detail1MOD.1
- Detonation Mechanism / Fuzespread and ignite fuel
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANRetired
- 1960Production started
- 1975Production ended
66
years in service
15
years in production
0
countries operating
ⓘ 2 countries retired it.
05 / MASS Score
CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS RANKING Cluster Bombs & Dispensers · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
24CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS1EARLY COLD WAR · CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS1912UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS26PERFORMANCE/PRICE · CLUSTER BOMBS & DISPENSERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theCluster Bombs & Dispenserscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE2terms
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.
Thermobaric or fuel-air munitions disperse and ignite an aerosol cloud of fuel, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure explosion with prolonged blast effects.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources