Russian military aviation is using guided bombs against the Ukrainian Defense Forces in all sectors of the front, while the Ukrainian military does not have the means to counter these attacks.
Yuriy Ignat, a representative of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, announced this on the air of the United News telethon.
They attack with guided bombs not only the south, but along the entire front line – Sumy region, Chernihiv region, the eastern direction. They attack everywhere. There is a new threat, to which it is difficult to respond, to put it mildly, because the enemy is using remotely controlled bombs, so far with impunity, the official said.
Russian planes strike from a distance of 50 km from the line of combat collision or the state border of Ukraine or the sea. Among them are mainly high-explosive aerial bombs FAB-500.
Thus, there is nothing to get the planes yet. You can try to shoot down bombs, but this requires a lot of money. 10-12 such bombs are used by the enemy along the front line every day. This is basically the FAB-500, equipped with wings, GPS navigation, flies to its target 10-20 km, or maybe more, in accordance with the height from which it is thrown,” Yuri Ignat explained.
The speaker added that the day before, information appeared in the Russian media that Russian Defense Minister Shoigu was checking a plant where a line for the production of such bombs was launched.
They specifically show the dates – 2023, that they are producing one and a half ton bombs. Obviously, they will also be equipped with wings and GPS navigation,” he said.
According to Ignat, to counter such Russian attacks, Ukraine needs modern air defense systems and Western aviation.
Means that can counter them are PATRIOT, SAMP-T systems from the ground, and best of all, these are modern F-16 aircraft or other 4+ generation aircraft that can withstand Russian aviation at a long distance, having both powerful radars and missiles . air-to-air class. We need to turn to our partners again and again so that the process of such equipment is accelerated, ”the official emphasized.
What is known about guided bombs
On March 4, Defense Express reported that Russian troops used for the first time in the war against Ukraine new UPAB-1500V glide bombs equipped with inertial and satellite navigation systems. This munition was first demonstrated in an export version with the K029BE index in 2019 by the developer of GNPP Region, which is part of the Tactical Missiles Corporation, at the MAKS exhibition. At the same time, it was reported that this bomb had already been tested, put into service with the Russian troops and received the first export orders.
According to Yuri Ignat, the Russian army has a significant stock of aerial bombs, including the FAB-500. This allows Russia to process them into guide missiles and use them instead of more expensive cruise missiles. Earlier, Ignat said that for the success of the counter-offensive of Ukraine, it is necessary to gain an advantage in the air. Without modern fighters, this will be difficult to achieve, he added.
Why is it important to get Western aviation
Ukraine must gain an advantage in the Russian air for a successful future counter-offensive. This was stated during an online briefing on Friday, April 7, the speaker of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
It will be a war of depletion of technical and human resources, depletion of weapons. Therefore, this counteroffensive cannot be called simple. If we are talking about what exactly is needed from the air forces, in order for the offensive to be successful, it is necessary to win, first of all, an advantage in the air. Because without an advantage in the air, to carry out offensive operations under the fire of enemy aircraft is a rather difficult issue, to put it mildly, – said Ignat.
Talking about a counter-offensive without strengthening Ukraine’s air dominance is “hardly possible.” Currently, there is a strengthening of air forces through Western partners, he added.
In the short term, there will be both Patriot and SAMP/T. Already with people who have learned to work on these complexes. This will strengthen our advantage in certain regions where it will be decided to install these complexes, Ignat noted.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.