Ukraine has developed a new high-precision guided bomb that could transform the tactical capabilities of Ukrainian aviation, Forbes reports, citing recent video footage and statements from military sources.
According to information, the new bomb is equipped with a rocket booster and retractable wings, which allows it to fly long distances of up to 40 miles (approximately 65 km). This opens up new tactical prospects for Ukrainian aviation.
A recently released video shows a Su-24 bomber with a prototype of the new bomb mounted under its wing. It is also known that back in June, Air Force Brigadier General Sergei Golubtsov announced the development of a special module to modernize Soviet unguided aerial bombs, similar to what Russia has done with KABs (corrected aerial bombs).
The new Ukrainian GPS-guided bomb, equipped with wings and a rocket booster, is believed to have some similarities to the French Hammer system, which also has a range of about 40 miles. It is possible that Ukrainian engineers adapted French technology when creating their counterpart.
It is worth noting that France supplies Ukraine with only 50 Hammer bombs per month, which is significantly less than the number of Russian modified aerial bombs dropped on Ukraine, which is about 3,000 per month. The development of a Ukrainian bomb is an important step, as it potentially allows it to hit targets on Russian territory, which Western weapons do not allow.
However, as Forbes notes, these plans remain at the concept stage until testing is completed and mass production of new ammunition begins at Ukrainian factories.
The main limitation for the use of such bombs is not so much their number, but the number of aircraft capable of dropping them. The massive use of guided bombs by Russia is due to its superiority in aviation, which is the main reason for their intensive use.
