Russian bombs prepare to take part in an attack (Illustration photo: RIA).
Russian defense contractor Rostec announced that this year Moscow will begin mass production of a new type of glide bomb that has been under development for many years.
According to RT , the new line of glide bombs could pose a challenge to Ukraine in the context of old bombs with guidance devices installed by Russia that have previously destroyed a series of Kiev's targets.
The new glide bomb is called the PKB-500U Drel, which means “drill” in Russian. The PKB-500U has undergone a full range of tests. Some of the tests were conducted in combat conditions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the details are kept secret.
Glider bombs are relatively cheap weapons that use fins to extend their range, but unlike missiles, they lack expensive engines. They can be dropped by high-flying fighters without entering the range of short-range enemy air defenses. Modern variants are also often equipped with guidance systems to ensure accuracy.
Amid the conflict with Ukraine, Russia has begun mass production of upgrade kits that can turn old unguided bombs into glide bombs. Western media reports say these weapons pose a major threat to Ukraine's frontline troops.
Last April, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat described the FAB as a “new threat,” stressing that Kiev would have to act quickly to respond. Several Ukrainian soldiers admitted to Forbes that the glide bomb is Russia’s “most terrifying” weapon.
The advantage of smart bombs is that they can hover from a long distance and accurately attack the target. This allows Russian planes to drop bombs from a distance without having to enter disputed airspace, avoiding the risk of being shot down by Ukrainian air defense.
The Drel was conceived in the 1990s, but the development of the weapon came much later because Russia did not have the necessary infrastructure at that time.
Drel uses the Glonass satellite navigation system for targeting. The main research and development phase is said to have been completed in 2016.
Bazalt, the defense engineering lab that developed the Drel, touts it as an advanced cluster bomb. Each 540kg bomb carries 15 sub-bomblets equipped with parachutes to target individual targets, such as tanks, armored vehicles or radar stations.
In theory, Drel could attack and destroy 15 hardened targets at once after the mother bomb was dropped.
Additionally, Bazalt said, Drel is specifically designed to prevent damage to non- military targets and ensure that submunitions are not left behind as unexploded ordnance, which could pose a serious threat to civilians.
The new super bomb is said to be able to be deployed from an altitude of 100m to 14km by aircraft. The maximum range of Drel is said to be 30km.
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