OVERVIEW: The CBU-78/B GATOR is an unguided, free-fall cluster bomb designed for anti-armor and anti-personnel area denial missions. It deploys a mix of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines over a wide target area.

DETAIL: The CBU-78/B uses the MK 7 dispenser to deliver a payload of 45 BLU-91/B anti-tank mines and 15 BLU-92/B anti-personnel mines. The BLU-91/B features magnetic and seismic sensors to detect armored vehicles and initiates detonation upon confirmation, while the BLU-92/B is pressure-activated and targets infantry. Each mine includes a self-destruct mechanism and a backup self-neutralizing feature to reduce long-term unexploded ordnance hazards. The GATOR system provides a rapid method for deploying a temporary minefield without requiring ground delivery.

This bomb was designed to be employed by tactical strike aircraft, including the F/A-18, F-15E, and F-16C, typically at low to medium altitudes. Upon release, the MK 7 dispenser opens mid-air and scatters the mines in a pre-programmed pattern. The GATOR is suited for interdicting armored units, blocking reinforcements, or delaying enemy movements across chokepoints.

The CBU-78/B was primarily used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for battlefield shaping missions and coastal denial. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to rapidly mine key areas with minimal aircraft exposure time.

NOTE:
IOC: Early 1980s
Operators: United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Platform: F/A-18 Hornet, A-6E Intruder, AV-8B Harrier II, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C Fighting Falcon
Conflicts: Gulf War (1991), Training Exercises

SOURCE:
U.S. Air Force Armament Museum ; Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; Department of Defense, Historical Munition Fact Sheets ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://nuke.fas.org ; U.S. Navy Weapon Systems Explosive Ordnance Disposal publication