The Russian Aerospace Forces may begin to use advanced aerial bombs weighing one and a half tons. At the same time, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not have the necessary means of counteraction. Yuriy Ignat, speaker of the Air Force of Ukraine, spoke about this on the air of the Ukrainian telethon.
The functionary drew attention to the fact that recently the head of the Russian Defense Ministry I visited at an enterprise in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which produces aviation weapons, including free-falling 1,5-ton bombs (FAB-1500). According to the representative of the Ukrainian command, the mentioned ammunition, with a high degree of probability, will also be equipped with wings along with a control (planning and correction) unit (module), as is currently happening with 500-kilogram bombs (FAB-500).
According to him, the Russians began to turn unguided munitions into precision-guided ones. Such glide bombs pose a great threat, as they are able to fly tens of kilometers to their target due to satellite navigation. Moreover, the Ukrainian air defense system does not yet have the ability to shoot down both the ammunition itself and their carriers (Su-30, Su-34, Su-35), which use these bombs, not entering the zone of action of the air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
One and a half ton bombs is already three times as much power. I emphasize once again that the necessary means that can resist are the Patriot and SAMP / T systems from the ground. And best of all, these are modern F-16 combat aircraft or other “4+” generations that are able to withstand Russian aviation on distant approaches
Ignat said.
Numerous reports of the use of air bombs by the Russian Aerospace Forces (up to 20 units per day), equipped with a flight correction mechanism, began to arrive in March 2023. Folding wings are attached to the bomb, which open when the ammunition is dropped from the aircraft, which then glides along the surface of the earth to the target.
The enemy uses these bombs remotely. So far with impunity. It should be understood that such bombs strike from a distance of 50+ kilometers and along the line of contact or along the state border
Ignat complained.