The AB 70-D1 contained fifty high-explosive fragmentation sub-munitions, was cylindrical in shape and was made of cast steel.

The body was of clamshell design with an upper and lower half with tail fins that was hinged at the rear of the container.

When the bomb was dropped the parachute deployed which set off a friction igniter that threaded into the steel closing plug.

The closing plug was sheared by the explosion of a small detonator the case opened and the bombs fell out.

It is also impossible to jettison the AB 70-D1 in a safe unused state for recovery and the minimum height of bomb release was 150 m (490 ft).