Ukraine Tests Homegrown Glide Bombs With 60 km Range – Needs Funds For Mass Production
Ukraine has begun testing its version of glide bombs to boost long-range strike capabilities, but the project requires more funding to move into mass production.
The new weapon, developed by the Ukrainian design bureau Medoid, is similar to Russia’s UMPK kits and the US JDAM, which convert regular aerial bombs into precision-guided glide bombs. Ukraine’s version has already demonstrated the ability to hit targets up to 60 kilometers away, the report said.
A video published by Defense Express shows the bomb being dropped from a Ukrainian Su-24 bomber during level flight.
The design copies the appearance of Russian UMPK [a munition guidance kit] bombs to save time, but the internal components are different, with a focus on improving accuracy, developers said.
“The planning and control module for a 500-kilogram bomb is our own design. The wings can be quickly attached; it takes just a few minutes. Ukrainian companies are involved in the production,” said Oleh Vostrykh, a representative of Medoid, in comments to Defense Express.
The navigation system is also produced in Ukraine, but developers are testing technology from a leading French company to improve protection against electronic warfare. Some components still need to be imported, Vostrykh added.
The current version meets the requirements of Ukraine’s military and the Ministry of Defense, with a range of 60 kilometers. Work is underway to increase that to 80 kilometers, and potentially up to 100 kilometers if dropped from high altitude, though actual combat range will depend on tactics and the threat environment.
“We are in the testing phase. Initial drops from the Su-24 have shown positive results for both range and the bomb’s glide system. But around ten more test drops are needed before the Defense Ministry can approve the weapon,” Vostrykh said.
He noted that the main challenge to completing development is a lack of funding. Each bomb costs about 1.2 million hryvnias, or roughly $25,000.
“At this stage, money is the key limiting factor for completing this project and starting mass production of Ukraine’s glide bomb,” Vostrykh said.
According to Defense Express, Ukraine’s military needs at least 100 long-range glide bombs per day. Western weapons like JDAM-ER, AASM Hammer, and GBU-39/B SDBs are being supplied, but not in enough quantity to meet battlespace requirements.
The Ukrainian version is already cheaper than Western alternatives, making it attractive for large-scale production, the report added.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine’s defense industry has the potential to produce over $35 billion worth of military equipment, but around 40% of that capacity remains underfunded. The Finance Ministry is drafting changes to the state budget to boost defense spending, including investments in domestic weapons production.
Source: Alisa Orlova