Russia escalates Ukraine conflict with advanced guided bombs
7:51 AM EDT, March 11, 2024
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in its latest analysis, quotes the spokesperson of the Ukrainian Tavriya group, Captain Dmytro Lychovyi.
On Sunday, Lychovyi reported that Russian forces attacked Myrnohrad in Donetsk oblast with three D-30SN gliding bombs, controlled by universal gliding ammunition (UMPB), initially mistaken for S-300 missiles. He said the refined UMPB D-30SN gliding bombs are an updated version of the Soviet-era unguided gravity bombs FAB.
Russia initiates serial production of bombs
Analysts suggest that the Russian military has deployed unguided gliding bombs since January. However, based on information from Russian military bloggers, as mentioned by ISW, there has since been a shift to employing guided FAB UMPB gliding bombs in unspecified regions of Ukraine.
The enhanced bombs are equipped with a GLONASS/GPS Comet signal receiver that resists jamming and has foldable wings, similar to those of the Ch-101 cruise missile. They can be launched from both aircraft and ground missile systems.
Expert analysis suggests that the Russian arms industry is poised to start serial production of UMPB-guided aerial bombs, including jet engines and fuel tanks.
Source: ISW
