Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation (KTRV) for the first time demonstrated to the public the new UPAB-1500B-E (K029B-E) and UPAB-500B-E (K08BE) correctable bombs. Full-size mock-ups of these ammunition are presented at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019 in Zhukovsky near Moscow.
Both ammunition are high-precision weapons thanks to the inertial-satellite guidance system installed on them. Air bombs have passed the entire test cycle and are already being delivered to the aerospace forces of the Russian Federation. In 2020, Russia will begin to export the UPAB-1500B and UPAB-500B.
Adjustable bombs were developed by specialists of the State Research and Production Enterprise JSC (GNPP) Region (Moscow), which is part of the KTRV. This year the company celebrates the 50th anniversary of its founding.
"Proven High Performance"
UPAB-1500B is designed to destroy fortified ground and surface objects. Ammunition mass is 1525 kg, length - 5 m, diameter - 0.4 m, warhead weight - 1010 kg. The bomb can be dropped from a height of 15 km and cover a distance of 50 km to the target. Deviation from the affected object does not exceed 10 m.
The equipment of the UPAB-1500B model, which will be exported, includes a satellite navigation receiver, an electric power source (thermal batteries), a high-explosive concrete-piercing warhead, a contact explosive device with three types of deceleration, and a control system (inertial complex, gas steering and air balloon).
UPAB-500B is a smaller version of the 1500-kilogram "relative". The bomb is used to destroy enemy weapons and military equipment, as well as army infrastructure. Ammunition mass - 505 kg, length - 2.8 m, diameter - 0.35 m, warhead weight - 390 kg.
The bomb can be dropped from a height of 14 km. The maximum range of application of the UPAB-500B is 40 km, the deviation from the target is not more than 10 m. The munition flight is adjusted using the wings in the middle of the hull and tail ribs.
In an interview with RT, the founder of the Military Russia portal Dmitry Kornev said that in recent years, adjustable (guided) aerial bombs have been actively improved in Russia, gradually replacing free-falling (uncontrollable) counterparts. Both types of ammunition were used in the Syrian campaign.
“The experience of combat use allowed the Ministry of Defense and the designers to decide on the further areas of development of aviation weapons. Adjustable or planning munitions have proven to be highly effective. Free-falling bombs will probably not be a thing of the past, but investing in their modernization makes little sense, ”said Kornev.
The expert explained that the dumping of the planning munition, as a rule, takes place outside the coverage area of the enemy’s military air defense. At the same time, free-falling bombs are thrown either above the target, or by cabling - a special maneuver that allows the pilot to drop ammunition at a distance of up to 15 km from the target.
In some respects, the adjustable bomb surpasses not only the free-fall counterpart, but also the air-to-surface cruise missile.
Planning ammunition is much cheaper and has a more powerful warhead than an air-to-surface missile. According to Kornev, the launch of one cruise missile can cost the budget hundreds of thousands of dollars due to the presence of a jet engine and high-tech equipment. At the same time, the corrected aerial bomb is devoid of complex units and systems.
- UPAB-1500B-E Guided Planning Aerial Bomb at MAKS-2019
- © Evgeny Biyatov / RIA News
“Aircraft cruise missile is necessary to destroy objects protected by the most advanced air defense systems, including long-range complexes. In all other cases, it is permissible to use bombs. It is inexpensive, reliable, efficient and safe for VKS crews. It is unreasonable if the price of ammunition exceeds the cost of the target, ”Kornev emphasized.
UPAB-1500B and UPAB-500B are not the only domestic new generation of correctable ammunition. In June 2019, at the Army-2019 forum, the Tekhmash concern introduced the general public to the PBC-500U SPBE-K Drel. Ammunition should be adopted by the end of 2019. The mass of the bomb is 540 kg, length - 3.1 m, deviation from the target - no more than 3-5 m.
“There are no analogues in the world. A bomb without an engine. Range when moving away from the carrier - for 30 km. That is, the plane does not enter the air defense strike zone, discards the product, and it independently finds the target. Navigation is carried out with the help of GLONASS, ”Vladimir Porkhachev, Director General of the NGO Basalt (part of the Techmash Concern), told reporters earlier.
In addition to the navigation system, Drill can use laser and television guidance. The bomb can be used by almost all combat aircraft of the Aerospace Forces, including long-range and strategic bombers.
Variety needed
Another novelty of KTRV at MAKS-2019 was the adjustable air bomb with a laser homing head KAB-250LG-E. It is designed to destroy easily vulnerable military equipment, railway junctions, warehouses, manpower. Ammunition is used alone and in one gulp from front-line aircraft.
The mass of the bomb is 256 kg, the length is 3.2 m, the diameter is 0.25 m, the weight of the high-explosive fragmentation warhead is 165 kg. The accuracy of the ammunition is twice as much as the heavier corrected counterparts. However, the use of KAB-250LG requires a reduction to a height of 1-10 km.
“KAB-250LG can be dropped by fighters, attack aircraft and bombers equipped with laser target illumination systems. However, the crew will have to reduce altitude and speed, a lot depends on weather conditions. With such bombing, the risk of being noticed by the enemy increases, ”said Kornev.
According to experts, the safest way for pilots to use the KAB-250LG is to focus on target designation, which is provided by the reconnaissance group behind enemy lines. According to him, under such conditions, the crew can "without looking" to bomb at a safe distance.
In May 2018, the Director General of the GNPP “Region” Igor Krylov in an interview with TASS said that the development of the KAB-250LG is at the final stage. According to him, the ammunition should replenish the arsenal of the most modern aircraft of the aerospace aviation tactical aviation.
“The new air bomb has already passed the full cycle of tests on the Su-34 front-line bomber, and will later be integrated into the armament of the Su-35 fighter. In addition, it is planned to place the KAB-250 in the inside fuselage compartment of the latest fifth-generation fighter Su-57, ”said Krylov.
- Adjustable aerial bomb with a laser homing head and high-explosive fragmentation warhead KAB-250LG-E at MAKS-2019
- © Evgeny Biyatov / RIA News
At MAKS-2019, the head of KTRV Boris Obnosov told reporters that small-sized, adjustable bombs weighing 100 and 50 kg are being developed for the needs of the aerospace forces. According to Kornev, these ammunition is necessary for arming the latest drones. They can also be in demand during anti-terrorist operations.
Retired Colonel Mikhail Khodarenok in an interview with RT said that the use of gliding ammunition can save airplanes from possible short-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM). A wide range of adjustable bombs allows you to effectively hit targets, depending on the specific circumstances of the theater of operations.
“A variety of ammunition and guidance systems is an important condition for completing a combat mission. Global positioning system (GLONASS) is not always suitable, as well as a laser guidance system. The commander making the decision to launch an air strike must have a choice, ”said Khodarenok.
As the expert explained, the primary goals of the corrected ammunition are command posts, communication centers, ammunition depots, armored vehicles, SAM launch positions, artillery firing positions of tactical missile systems, infrastructure facilities (bridges, railway and ferry crossings).
“Adjustable bombs will come not only to the arsenal of the air forces. Domestic ammunition is in demand among the traditional operators of our aircraft - the countries of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and North Africa. It is entirely possible that India and China will ask Russia to launch mass production on its territory, ”Khodarenok suggested.