Russian Fighters Successfully Deploy Glide-Bombs to Demolish Ukrainian Defenses in Avdiivka
The Russian air force has long struggled to support ground troops in their war on Ukraine. However, recent developments have shown a change in tactics. Russian pilots have started using satellite-guided glide-bombs to target Ukrainian defenses in Avdiivka, a former stronghold just northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk.
For the past two years, the Russian air force faced challenges due to poor training, crude weaponry, and centralized control. They were unable to effectively support ground troops. But now, they have found a way to overcome these obstacles. By launching glide-bombs from a distance of 25 miles, Russian pilots have been relentlessly attacking Avdiivka. After four months of intense assaults, the Ukrainian 110th Mechanized Brigade was forced to retreat from the ruined city.
This new tactic is expected to be replicated in other sectors of the 600-mile front line. The Institute for the Study of War in Washington, D.C. believes that the Avdiivka glide-bombing campaign could signal a change in Russian operations along the front line.
The Russian air force possesses around 10 times more fighter-bombers than the Ukrainian air force. However, this numerical superiority did not translate into full control of the air over Ukraine. Due to the effectiveness of Ukrainian surface-to-air missile systems, the Russian air force lost the ability to operate at higher altitudes in Ukrainian-controlled airspace.
In the early stages of the war, Russian pilots were unable to fly near the front line due to the risk involved. They also lacked long-range precision munitions that would allow them to support ground forces from a safe distance. However, they managed to develop a crude glide-bombing capability by attaching wings and satellite-guidance kits to KAB or FAB bombs weighing between 550 and 3,300 pounds. This allowed Sukhoi fighter-bombers to launch these bombs from a distance of 25 miles, reducing the risk from Ukrainian surface-to-air missile systems.
The KAB glide-bomb quickly became one of Russia’s most feared weapons. Ukrainian troops described the terror of these silent bombs exploding without warning, with enough firepower to topple buildings and pulverize bunkers. In Avdiivka, where the Russian army concentrated its combat power, the KABs systematically demolished many buildings. The Ukrainian 110th Brigade, relying on these buildings as observation posts and firing positions, had no choice but to retreat as their positions were destroyed.
During the peak of the aerial campaign, Russian Sukhois launched an astonishing 250 KABs in just 48 hours. This relentless bombardment left the 110th Brigade with nowhere to hide in Avdiivka’s ruins. They eventually surrendered the city to the Russian regiments and brigades.
This successful use of air power by Russia is a significant development in the war. For the first time in two years, Russian air power played a decisive role in ground operations. However, it came at a cost. Ukrainian missile batteries, potentially armed with U.S.-made Patriot missiles, shot down three Russian Sukhois east of Avdiivka. The Ukrainians have the means to defend against glide-bombers but lack the capacity to do so due to a decrease in Patriot missile supply.
The arrival of Ukraine’s new ex-European F-16 fighters in the coming weeks or months may help compensate for the dwindling Patriot missiles. These fighters will be tasked with pushing back Russian bombers and intercepting Russian tactical aviation. However, they will face challenges in fighting their way past Russian fighters and air defenses.
Without the Patriots, Ukrainian cities are vulnerable to Russian glide-bombs. It is likely that more cities will suffer from these devastating attacks, leading to further Ukrainian losses in the war.