Russian troops are reportedly using new guided bombs in Ukraine, which threaten to increase pressure on Ukrainian air defenses as the cold winter months approach, Newsweek reported.
Moscow’s forces are using upgraded “smart” planning bombs equipped with laser and satellite guidance for increased precision, the US Institute for the Study of War said on Monday, citing a Russian military blogger, specifically mentioning the FAB-1500.
The FAB-1500, the largest of the series of planning bombs, which also includes the FAB-250 and FAB-500, weighs 1,550 kilograms and has a destruction radius of up to 500 meters, the blogger wrote.
According to him, the bomb destroys underground bunkers at a depth of up to 20 meters and penetrates three meters of reinforced concrete. Discussing the possible use of these weapons, he suggested that the Su-34, Su-30 and Su-35 of the Russian Air Force could launch them.
Earlier this year, Ukraine already sounded the alarm about Russian planning bombs. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat in April called the FAB series of bombs “a new threat” that must be “urgently responded to.”
The head of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, revealed in early April that Russia was increasingly using the smaller FAB-500 “across the front line,” noting “signs of preparation for mass use of 1,500-kilogram FABs.”
But the FAB-1500 differs from the UPAB-1500 integrated-wing planing bomb that Russia has long used. The wings and guidance kit of the FAB-1500 are suitable for mass production and use, Forbes magazine reported, citing another influential Russian military blogger.
Ukraine also received assistance from the United States with guided bombs, including standardized direct-attack munitions JDAMs and longer-range JDAM-ERs. The JDAM guidance suite and guidance system transforms unguided bombs launched from various aircraft into precision-guided smart munitions. In many ways they are similar to the FAB series.
In March, the commander of US Air Force Europe and Africa, General James Hecker, confirmed that the Ukrainian armed forces were using a limited number of JDAM-ER smart bombs. These were included in the military aid package delivered in December 2022.
Ukraine is bracing for the bleak winter months and believes Russian attacks on key infrastructure will become more frequent. Adding to Moscow’s arsenal, the new huge planning bombs will increase the pressure on Ukrainian air defense systems and become another argument in favor of the transfer of Western-made fighters to the Ukrainian armed forces – Kiev has regularly made such calls since the beginning of the year.
According to Frederik Mertens, an analyst at the Center for Strategic Studies in The Hague, Russia is likely to hit Ukraine’s energy infrastructure “as soon as the real winter starts.”
“Russia has used missiles sparingly in recent months and should build up a decent stockpile again,” he told Newsweek magazine. “The most logical target would be Kiev’s energy infrastructure, and the most logical time is when it is most needed.” he concluded.
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2023-11-02 20:03:00
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