Ukraine Unearths Russian Gliding Bomb: A New Era in Missile Warfare
3:13 PM EST, March 9, 2024
The mysterious ordnance discovered by Ukrainians was produced in February 2024. According to the Russian Telegram profile, Fighterbomber, it is a relatively unknown 300mm caliber gliding bomb, named UMPB D-30SN. It closely resembles the American GLSDB in concept.
The UMPB D-30SN was designed for aircraft launches, as evidenced by photos showing the bomb with a pylon attachment. It can also be launched from the Tornado S system, the Russian counterpart to the M142 HIMARS.
Gliding missile bombs — the new trend in missile artillery
Historically, extending the range of missile artillery involved using rockets with larger fuel reserves or more energetic fuels.
However, in the late 2000s, a Swedish-American collaboration considered the innovative idea of attaching a gliding bomb GBU-39 SDB to a GMLRS missile engine, which would separate mid-flight. This concept was deemed worth exploring, leading to the inception of the GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) program by Boeing and Saab in 2015.
The Ukrainians have recently commenced using these "missile gliding bombs," marking their debut. Similarly, it appears that the Russians have been developing a comparable technology.
The Russian variant, UMPB D-30SN, or "multi-purpose gliding bomb caliber 12 inches," is based on a KAB-250 bomb. It weighs 551 pounds, is equipped with folding wings, and utilizes both inertial and satellite navigation.
This bomb is then affixed to the propulsion section of a missile from either the BM-30 Smerch or Tornado-S system. The precise range of this hybrid is yet to be determined, but it is expected to significantly exceed the 124 - 186 mile range of the system's standard missiles. This development showcases Russia's ongoing capacity to innovate and produce advanced military solutions.
