Russia's New Type of Glide-Guided Bomb Deployed in Actual Combat

Reference News Network, February 16 report According to the Russian newspaper "Komsomolskaya Pravda" website on February 10, the Russian Aerospace Forces have used the latest UMPB-5 glide-guided bomb for the first time in the special military operation zone. Military experts assess that this new weapon can have a significant impact on the course of combat operations.

Before the emergence of this new type of bomb, the Russian military had years of experience using similar bombs in the special military operation zone. The main difference between the UMPB-5 and similar bombs is its longer flight range, which can exceed 200 kilometers. Previously, the Russian Aerospace Forces had obtained various aerial bombs like the FAB-250 equipped with the "Universal Glide and Correction Module" (UMPK), which initially had a range of about 50 kilometers.

The jet engine-equipped glide bomb was first deployed on the battlefield in 2025, with a self-guided flight distance of up to 100 kilometers after detaching from the aircraft. Now, the UMPB-5 has set a new record.

Most information regarding the design of the UMPB-5 is classified, but its effectiveness on the battlefield has been confirmed. Military expert Yuri Knutov pointed out that the UMPB-5 body is slightly longer than a standard aerial bomb, featuring enlarged glide wings and a jet engine.

The combat effectiveness of the UMPB-5 fully meets the expectations of the Russian military. With this bomb, the Russian military can fundamentally change the course and even the overall nature of combat.

Military commentator Gennady Alyokhin emphasized the advantages of this new type of bomb. He noted that the UMPB-5's warhead includes 500 kilograms of explosives, capable of incapacitating fortified command posts, camouflaged artillery, and air defense missile positions, as well as enemy concrete pipeline trenches. Its flight range is 40 to 50 kilometers farther than the previous generation of glide-guided bombs. This allows aircraft to drop bombs from deep within their own territory without entering the lethal range of enemy air defense fire.

This new type of bomb can explode at a pre-set altitude, thus having a larger kill area.

Military expert Vladislav Shurekin pointed out that the military infrastructure in the rear of the Ukrainian campaign (the rear area under the command of army-level troops—editor's note) has now become very vulnerable. He stated that this bomb is equipped with an advanced guidance system resistant to electronic interference, capable of effectively striking static infrastructure targets such as warehouses and command posts. (Translated by Liu Yang)