RT quoted Voyenny Obozrevatel, a military analyst at Telegram, as saying that the successful test targeting the city of Nikolaev (Ukraine) on October 14 could be the first time a Russian warding bomb has flown 120-150km away before hitting the target.
Unlike expensive guided missiles,glide bombs are free-fall bombs that have been improved with aerodynamic wings and guidance equipment, helping to increase accuracy and expand range.
Current conventional Russian surface-to-air bomb models have a range of 40-70km, depending on the altitude at launch and the weight of the warhead. Despite their simple structure, they are extremely cost-effective: They can be released from beyond the reach of the Ukrainian air defense, but are still capable of destroying solid works on the front line.
The newride is a leap forward that is twice the current range of fire, opening a new tactical phase for the Russian air force.
Ukraine confirmed that at the same time as the explosion in Nikolaev, its warning system detected a bomb threat floating in the city's sky and detected a Russian Su-34 fighter jets launching shells from the sky over the Black Sea.
Ukrainian authorities said they have not yet determined the exact type of weapon used, but confirmed that there were no casualties in the attack.
Previous sources said Russia is testing the advanced guided-wing UMPB D-30SN, designed with a more advanced wing and a more precise guidance system, increasing the range to 100-120km.
This relatively compact weapon is said to have been tested on the ground since May 2024, and if the latest information is confirmed, it is likely that this is the next upgraded version of the D-30SN, which could reach 150km, taking Russian aircraft out of most of the combat areas of the Ukrainian air defense.
Experts say that if Russia has truly achieved the ability to attack long-range using cheap strategic bombs, this will significantly change the tactical balance on the battlefield of Ukraine.
Without relying entirely on expensive cruise missiles, Moscow can increase remote precision strikes, while minimizing the risk for pilots.
Notably, Western observers see this as a technical counterattack by Russia against NATOs continued supply of modern air defense systems to Kiev.
Since the beginning of 2024, Russia has continuously increased the use of aircraft bombs in the campaign in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kiev and its Western allies are also looking to develop a new electronic warfare and defense system to deal with this difficult-to-detect weapon.
