The CBU-89 Gator is a 1000-pound cluster bomb containing anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. It is designed for rapid area denial in tank-vulnerable directions, utilizing high-speed tactical aircraft. These minefields are also employed to slow troop movement or to immobilize targets for engagement by other weapon systems.
The Gator kit consists of an SUU-64 dispenser, which carries 72 anti-tank and 22 anti-personnel mines, along with an FZU-39 proximity fuze. The mines arm themselves when the dispenser opens. Mine detonation occurs upon target detection or after a set time, as both mine types are equipped with programmable self-destruct timers. The anti-personnel mine also detonates if its tripwires are disturbed.
Gator System Components
The Gator system comprises two similar dispensers: the CBU-89 and the CBU-78. The U.S. Air Force uses the CBU-89/B, which incorporates the 1000-pound class SUU-64/B (TMD) dispenser. TMD is a common configuration also used for the CBU-87/B CEM, a commonality that reduces manufacturing costs. The U.S. Navy, on the other hand, employs the 500-pound class Mk-7 Rockeye dispenser in its CBU-78/B variant.
The CBU-89 cluster bomb contains a mixed payload of 72 BLU-91/B anti-tank mines and 22 BLU-92/B anti-personnel mines. Both mines are externally identical, appearing as cylinders embedded in a square aeroballistic adapter. The adapter measures 147mm x 127mm x 66mm, while the mine itself has a height of 66mm and a diameter of 121mm.
Mine Characteristics and Operation
The BLU-91/B anti-tank, bottom-attack mine forms the core of the Gator system, proving highly effective against tanks and other armored vehicles. Microelectronics within each mine detect targets, differentiate armored vehicles, and detonate the mine when a target reaches its proximity, using a remote magnetic fuze. Its shaped charge is capable of penetrating the belly armor of most vehicles. This mine weighs 1.95 kg (with 594g of RDX explosive) and lacks anti-handling features.
The BLU-92/B anti-personnel fragmentation mine serves to complicate minefield clearance efforts. It features a tripwire fuze with four deployable filaments. Upon detonation, high-velocity fragments are dispersed in a horizontal plane. This mine weighs 1.68 kg (with 408g of Composition B-4 explosive) and includes anti-handling elements to prevent easy removal.
Both mine types offer three selectable self-destruct times: 4 hours, 48 hours, or 15 days, which are set prior to deployment and activated upon dispenser opening. The size of the minefield is determined by the dispenser’s opening altitude, controlled by the FZU-39/B electromechanical proximity fuze. Once opened, the mines scatter, with an area of approximately 130,000 m² (a 200m by 650m section) being covered by six CBU-89 cluster bombs.
The U.S. Air Force deployed 1105 CBU-89s during the Gulf War. Currently, the CBU-89 cluster bomb is being equipped with the WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) kit, leading to the further development of the CBU-104. The CBU-104 is virtually identical to the CBU-89, except for the integration of the WCMD system, which enhances accuracy.