An American edition notes that planned bombs used by Russia pose a major threat to Ukraine, according to Newsweek.
The magazine reports an uptick in Russian airstrikes on Ukraine in recent weeks, with many launches employing so-called “filtration bombs.”
In March, a Ukrainian Air Force spokesman stated that around 10 Russian Su-35 jets released 11 glide bombs over the Sumy region. Kyiv Independent described the strike as devastating, while the spokesman called the use of glide bombs an extremely grave threat.
“Planning bombs can travel long distances and planes are not included in the destruction zone of our air defenses”, the military noted.
What is a planning bomb?
Glide bombs are standard munitions modified with additional navigation systems. This modification lets the projectile steer its flight path toward the target.
Some glide bombs are equipped with GPS from the outset, while others receive a navigation unit after production.
Ukraine’s military analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko told Newsweek that glide bombs pose a serious threat, partly because aircraft can launch them without entering Ukraine’s air defense range.
“They can be deployed by the Russian Armed Forces without coming under our air defense coverage, and they can strike frontline positions as well as nearby cities”, Kovalenko explained, noting another advantage is that these weapons are cheaper to manufacture than more advanced missiles.
“With these arsenals, the Russians can strike large numbers of targets at relatively low cost and potentially inflict substantial damage”, military expert Guy McCardle told Newsweek.
Ukraine also uses “smart” bombs
The report also points out that Russia is not the only party employing precision-guided systems. The United States has supplied Ukraine with JDAM precision-guided bombs, which Ukraine is using on a limited basis. These are conventional bombs upgraded with GPS-guided wings to become guided munitions.
The publication notes that Ukraine utilized JDAM to strike Russian positions in Bakhmut on a reported date, with video showing the bombs hitting a high-rise building. An analyst commented that the explosion appears large and accurate, suggesting an airborne munition was involved. The remark also noted that the United States may have shipped an extended-range JDAM version, reducing the need for Ukrainian planes to overfly targets.
Earlier reports indicated that Russia began using modernized FAB-500M-62 bombs in Ukraine. These high-explosive bombs, developed during the USSR era, were upgraded with a control unit, navigation system, and wings. The Russian Aerospace Forces have reportedly launched dozens of such bombs daily, signaling a shift toward more controllable air-delivery methods. Newsweek described these weapons as an increasingly common element of Russia’s arsenal, with some observers believing they can alter battlefield dynamics.