Hello everybody! The following is something largely prepared back in mid-October, but completed only now. Perhaps it’s better that way because additional info became available ever since, and thus a better analysis is possible. *** Provided my count is not entirely wrong, through October this year, the Russian Air-Space Force (VKS) has released about 1,000 of glide bombs upon Ukraine. That was about 30 glide bombs a day. The number was at least similar though November, when two sectors of the frontline – like Avdiika and ZSU’s bridgeheads on the Dnipro – were targeted by up to a dozen of glide bombs a day, each.
Nov 28, 2023·edited Nov 28, 2023Liked by Sarcastosaurus
Thank you for this article! A minor nitpick re UMPK: I'm fairly certain that "planirovanie" should be translated as "gliding" (and not as "planning") in this context — see definition 2 here: https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/планировать
Interesting and very informative. I wonder what those Ukrainian enterprises that built those guidance systems are working on now. I hope they're being pivoted to produce weapons that can hit Crimea. I dont think it makes any sense that Russia still has airbases in Crimea and we're not actively helping Ukraine solve that problem.
A good analysis of the capabilities of the Russian Air Force in terms of bombs, but what I want to mention is that the Sudanese also produced locally guided bombs equipped with upper wings and other mobile rear ones, as they equipped them with systems in the back of the bomb to increase accuracy through television guidance systems for the SU-24 bombers that they developed, as well as the MIG. -29 which was developed along with the SU-25 with the Republic of Belarus....
Nov 28, 2023·edited Nov 28, 2023Liked by Sarcastosaurus
Hi from Bandon, Oregon USA. I am 82 yrs old and read your posts. One thing I struggle with are all of the abbreviatons used for things such as ZSU, VKS, PCU, SBU, ZRKs, MLRS, HUR, AFU and on and on. Today you have more about bombs! I try to keep a list with meanings but can't always make a match. Consider creating a listing of all the abbreviations you use and add it to your daily posts, maybe at the bottom. PS--I don't think "abbreviations" is the correct word, sorry.
This means that the Russians use GLONASS- and/or GPS- guided MPK in Ukraine. Originally there were 4 flavors of MPK: unguided, inertial module guidance, GPS/GLONASS guidance, GPS/GLONASS guidance + jet engine
Thanks for report. It would be interesting to listen about tactics of JDam using. Do planes throws then from low altitudes or like Russians? And what amount of bombs. I've seen somewhere information about dozens in day
First of all Tom, I love your great and frank analyses which I have been reading since almost the first days of this war. Thank you so much.
In one of your analyses many moons ago I remember you writing that Russian/Soviet design philosophy for military aircraft was to make them last for 150 sorties or so, and then they are toast. If I remember your post back then correctly, should not the Russian Air Force be running out of airworthy air frames pretty soon if it keeps dropping bombs at this rate?
Thank you for this article. However is it correct to assume the F16's will be still very vulnerable near and over the Russian line of contact? and therefore should Ukraine ultimately be supplied or have flown for them, F35's against these long range Russian air to air missiles and the Russian superior range fighter radars. Would Saab F39's have been a better investment for Ukraine at this stage in terms of radar signature ?
Hello Tom, While appreciate your work seems your understanding of UMPK is grossly wrong. It contains not just an extendable wings, but also extendable flight correction surfaces at the rear part of the module. Therefore your description of the bomb with add on screwed in fins under the wing of Su-34 as a proof of unguidance is incorrect. It is guided weapon using satellite module Komet-M or similar for correction. Do you seriously believe that RuAF so stupid to launch unguided bombs from 60 km? What would be the accuracy, plus-minus 5-10 km? Look, entire detached modules were found in Ukraine, photos and descriprions of components are easy enough to find.
The reason why ukrainian sources call this bombs "FAB" and "KAB" is because it's easier to civilians to undertstand what the hell this new bombs is, and to not overwhelm people with specific information. Also Yuriy Ignat, the speaker of ukrainian airforces, said about this bombs that russians simply take FABs, put wings and GPS on it and in that way transform FABs into KABs to cover their shortage on missiles. As result, this his statement also mixed "FAB" and "KAB" in ukrainian media and official/unofficial sources. Also FAB and KAB abbreviations also exists in ukrainian language and means the same as in russian.
It all reminds me my arguing with some western "missiles engineer" about russian hypersonic missle "Kinjal", after ukrainians shot down the first one and claimed it as "the first interception of hypersonic missile in history". While this western "missiles engineer" insisted on that Kinjal is not a hypersonic missile, because Kinjal not corresponds by characterictic to western definition of "hyperconic missile" (it can't maneuver in air like western missiles), for me, as for civilian, this specific information is useless. It's missile? Yes. It's break hypersonic speed? Yup. Then, it's hypersonic missile. For me, as for civillian, it's the same with FAB/KAB. Tho, it's still interesting to read about actual diffeeence between them.
Thank you for this article! A minor nitpick re UMPK: I'm fairly certain that "planirovanie" should be translated as "gliding" (and not as "planning") in this context — see definition 2 here: https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/планировать
Thank you for a lot of valuable information. But we are still eager to know your opinion about the situation on the battlefield.
Interesting and very informative. I wonder what those Ukrainian enterprises that built those guidance systems are working on now. I hope they're being pivoted to produce weapons that can hit Crimea. I dont think it makes any sense that Russia still has airbases in Crimea and we're not actively helping Ukraine solve that problem.
A good analysis of the capabilities of the Russian Air Force in terms of bombs, but what I want to mention is that the Sudanese also produced locally guided bombs equipped with upper wings and other mobile rear ones, as they equipped them with systems in the back of the bomb to increase accuracy through television guidance systems for the SU-24 bombers that they developed, as well as the MIG. -29 which was developed along with the SU-25 with the Republic of Belarus....
When I came to the point "all the FABs remained unguided", my first though was: "it's a typical Russian solution" :D
Hi from Bandon, Oregon USA. I am 82 yrs old and read your posts. One thing I struggle with are all of the abbreviatons used for things such as ZSU, VKS, PCU, SBU, ZRKs, MLRS, HUR, AFU and on and on. Today you have more about bombs! I try to keep a list with meanings but can't always make a match. Consider creating a listing of all the abbreviations you use and add it to your daily posts, maybe at the bottom. PS--I don't think "abbreviations" is the correct word, sorry.
FAB-ulous, baby, FAB-U-lous! Someone pour him a glass of KAB-ernet.
Ukrainian engineers said that they found a EW-proof satellite navigation module Комета-М in a wreckage of MPK.
https://mil.in.ua/uk/articles/kometa-problema-dlya-reb-ukrayiny/
https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/rosiyany-vykorystovuyut-systemy-protydiyi-reb-na-bombah/
This means that the Russians use GLONASS- and/or GPS- guided MPK in Ukraine. Originally there were 4 flavors of MPK: unguided, inertial module guidance, GPS/GLONASS guidance, GPS/GLONASS guidance + jet engine
https://defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/rosijani_uzhe_v_2009_rotsi_mali_chotiri_varianti_krilatih_bomb_z_moduljami_umpk_ale_todi_tsi_virobi_v_seriju_ne_pishli-11528.html
Thanks for report. It would be interesting to listen about tactics of JDam using. Do planes throws then from low altitudes or like Russians? And what amount of bombs. I've seen somewhere information about dozens in day
First of all Tom, I love your great and frank analyses which I have been reading since almost the first days of this war. Thank you so much.
In one of your analyses many moons ago I remember you writing that Russian/Soviet design philosophy for military aircraft was to make them last for 150 sorties or so, and then they are toast. If I remember your post back then correctly, should not the Russian Air Force be running out of airworthy air frames pretty soon if it keeps dropping bombs at this rate?
KAB used in Ukranian as Kerovana Avia Bomba - Guided Aerial Bomb
Could be also translated as Controllled
Thank you for this article. However is it correct to assume the F16's will be still very vulnerable near and over the Russian line of contact? and therefore should Ukraine ultimately be supplied or have flown for them, F35's against these long range Russian air to air missiles and the Russian superior range fighter radars. Would Saab F39's have been a better investment for Ukraine at this stage in terms of radar signature ?
Hello Tom, While appreciate your work seems your understanding of UMPK is grossly wrong. It contains not just an extendable wings, but also extendable flight correction surfaces at the rear part of the module. Therefore your description of the bomb with add on screwed in fins under the wing of Su-34 as a proof of unguidance is incorrect. It is guided weapon using satellite module Komet-M or similar for correction. Do you seriously believe that RuAF so stupid to launch unguided bombs from 60 km? What would be the accuracy, plus-minus 5-10 km? Look, entire detached modules were found in Ukraine, photos and descriprions of components are easy enough to find.
Hi, Tom. Thanks for this article.
The reason why ukrainian sources call this bombs "FAB" and "KAB" is because it's easier to civilians to undertstand what the hell this new bombs is, and to not overwhelm people with specific information. Also Yuriy Ignat, the speaker of ukrainian airforces, said about this bombs that russians simply take FABs, put wings and GPS on it and in that way transform FABs into KABs to cover their shortage on missiles. As result, this his statement also mixed "FAB" and "KAB" in ukrainian media and official/unofficial sources. Also FAB and KAB abbreviations also exists in ukrainian language and means the same as in russian.
It all reminds me my arguing with some western "missiles engineer" about russian hypersonic missle "Kinjal", after ukrainians shot down the first one and claimed it as "the first interception of hypersonic missile in history". While this western "missiles engineer" insisted on that Kinjal is not a hypersonic missile, because Kinjal not corresponds by characterictic to western definition of "hyperconic missile" (it can't maneuver in air like western missiles), for me, as for civilian, this specific information is useless. It's missile? Yes. It's break hypersonic speed? Yup. Then, it's hypersonic missile. For me, as for civillian, it's the same with FAB/KAB. Tho, it's still interesting to read about actual diffeeence between them.
This is from your Don's weekly :
30 km from the river to the north, a Ukrainian air surveillance radar is destroyed by a glide bomb…
https://twitter.com/WarVehicle/status/1728134777897906209
This hit is very precise.