Exclusive:
Ukraine’s military scientists have crippled Russian ‘wonder-bomb’ that caused so much devastation on the 800 mile-long frontline, turning it into a ‘virtual dud’ that blows up in empty fields
A RUSSIAN so-called “wonder bomb” that has devastated the Ukrainian battlefield has been turned into a virtual “dud” by Kyiv’s military scientists.
Weapons boffins have found a way of crippling the Glide Bomb’s guidance system, sending it off course by almost a mile as it approaches its target. Desperate Moscow war-planners turned to the Soviet-era Glide Bomb because it is deadly accurate and much cheaper than cruise or ballistic missiles. It costs roughly £15,000 a-shot, in comparison to the Kalibr cruise missile which can cost Russia more than £5 million each for a similar result.
The Glide Bomb was used to deadly effect last year in places such as Zaphorizhzhia, in one attack alone killing 13 civilians and injuring ten. It was also used to devastating effect to take the key and once fortress Ukrainian community of Avdiivka. Russian forces levelled Ukraine ’s defences with Glide Bombs and then launched infantry attacks on the ground in overwhelming numbers. But now all along the 800 mile frontline, much of it scarred with deep trenches and defensive constructions, Glide Bombs are being sent off course.
Their guidance systems are being scrambled by Ukrainian radio jammers and left to explode harmlessly in fields. Ukrainian authorities estimated that Russia fired many thousands of Glide Bombs just last year, having brought many out of storage since the Soviet-era. In one period hundreds a-day were launched at Ukraine, having been released by jets from 25 miles away. The bombs are simple explosive capsules up to three tons in weight and fitted with wings and fins, giving it a previously accurate targeting ability.
It relied upon mostly satellite communications to correct its path as it flew but Ukraine has found a way of hacking the system and sending it off-target. Previously they had proved near-impossible to intercept by Ukraine’s air defences. The Soviet-designed weapons are low altitude, stand-off bombs that are long-range and can be dropped by Russia’s SU-34 fighter bombers. Russia has thousands left over from Soviet times that have been modified.
