Images released by Ukrainian media on 2/9 show a MiG-29 fighter carrying a conventional Soviet-era bomb, likely a 500 kg FAB-500, equipped with wings and a guidance system underneath.
This bomb closely resembles the conventional bombs fitted with the Unified Modular Planning and Correction Kit (UMPK) that Russia has been using since early 2023.
Ukraine appears to have tested a similar glide bomb on a Su-24 attack aircraft in June. Video footage released at the time showed the wings deploying shortly after the bomb was released, but no footage of the bomb in flight was shown.
 |
A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter carries a glide bomb similar to the Russian UMPK in a photo released on 2/9. Photo: X/Archer 83 Able |
A Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter carries a glide bomb similar to the Russian UMPK in a photo released on 2/9. Photo: X/Archer 83 Able
Thomas Newdick, an editor at the US military website War Zone, points out that the Ukrainian Air Force has more MiG-29s than Su-24s, making the effort to equip the fighter with glide bombs a logical step. The MiG-29 is also one of the first Ukrainian fighter jets to be modified to carry Western-supplied guided bombs and missiles.
Ukrainian media claim this glide bomb has a range of 60 km in tests, and the manufacturer aims to increase it to 80 km. In comparison, Russia's original UMPK-guided glide bomb has a range of 60-70 km, and Ukrainian officials say the extended-range UMPK-PD can hit targets up to 95 km away.
The Ukrainian glide bomb developer also claims they are working to improve the guidance system for greater accuracy than the Russian UMPK. The current guidance system is domestically produced and is expected to integrate French technology for better jamming resistance.
"It's unclear what results Ukraine has achieved so far and the specific operational status of this new weapon. However, a guidance kit that transforms conventional bombs into glide bombs will be very useful for Ukraine once perfected," Newdick assesses.
A Ukrainian Su-24 bomber releases a glide bomb in a video published on 25/6. Video: Defense Express
The UMPK includes GLONASS satellite navigation and a control system for increased accuracy, along with wings to extend the bomb's range. This is similar to the US JDAM-ER, which converts conventional bombs into smart bombs, rather than producing expensive specialized guided bombs.
Instead of free-falling like a conventional bomb, the UMPK-equipped bomb can glide for tens of kilometers and maneuver in flight thanks to its wings. This allows Russian fighters to release bombs from beyond the range of most Ukrainian air defense systems.
Russia has equipped its 250-3,000 kg bombs with the UMPK. Experts say the UMPK has significantly improved the effectiveness of Russia's tactical air force, which played a limited role in the early stages of the conflict. It's also one of the weapons the Ukrainian air force has admitted it "cannot intercept".
Nguyen Tien (War Zone, AFP, AP)
