{"id":392507,"date":"2025-09-02T18:05:15","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T18:05:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/392507\/"},"modified":"2025-09-02T18:05:15","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T18:05:15","slug":"first-look-at-ukraines-new-glide-bomb-on-a-mig-29","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/392507\/","title":{"rendered":"First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29"},"content":{"rendered":"

The TWZ Newsletter<\/p>\n

Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.<\/p>\n

A Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum<\/a> has been seen, apparently for the first time, armed with an air-launched munition analogous to the Russian UMPK<\/a>, a fairly crude type<\/a> of guided glide bomb that has nevertheless caused enormous difficulties for Ukrainian air defenses. The appearance of the weapon on the MiG underscores Ukraine\u2019s continued efforts to field standoff munitions, to protect its air assets, and to press home more effective attacks on Russian targets across the front lines. Most significantly, perhaps, the development highlights Ukraine\u2019s major push to introduce more advanced homegrown weapons, reducing its reliance on Western-supplied ordnance.<\/p>\n

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\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet spotted with what appears to be the analogue of a Russian guided aerial bomb with the UMPK, installed under its wing.<\/p>\n

In June 2025, it became publicly known that Ukraine have begun tests of what can be considered to be its analogue of the Russian\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Ua0Oglxu5Y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) September 1, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Recently appeared imagery shows the weapon \u2014 the name of which remains unknown \u2014 under the port wing of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29. The jet is painted in the high-conspicuity blue and yellow scheme that echoes that of the Ukrainian Falcons display team, and which you can read more about here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"A close-up of the weapon under the wing of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29. via X <\/p>\n

As for the weapon, this appears very similar to the UMPK, which is essentially a low-cost kit converting an iron bomb into a guided munition. The Ukrainian weapon has the same underslung wing kit as found on the Russian weapon, which involves the flying surfaces popping out after the bomb topples over in mid-air, soon after being released. As in the Russian UMPK, the Ukrainian weapon appears to incorporate a standard free-fall bomb, which is attached to a self-contained \u2018flying device,\u2019 with wings and a navigation package. Judging by the size of the bomb itself, it is apparently in the 500-kilogram (1,102-pound) category.<\/p>\n

The first reports of Ukraine testing such a weapon emerged in June of this year, with initial tests<\/a> of the munition aboard the Su-24 Fencer<\/a> strike aircraft. <\/p>\n

\"\"The Ukrainian glide bomb is test-launched from a Su-24. via X <\/p>\n

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Ukraine is conducting tests of its analogue of a Russian guided aerial bomb with the UMPK module. <\/p>\n

In the footage, the weapon can be seen being launched from a Sukhoi Su-24. According to Defense Express, the Ukrainian KAB was able to struck a target located 60km away during\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/AY6p1v2DED<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) June 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Bearing in mind the fact that the MiG-29 is more widely available than the Fencer, it makes sense to integrate it on the Fulcrum, too. As the workhorse of the Ukrainian Air Force, the MiG-29 has previously been a primary candidate<\/a> to carry various Western-supplied munitions, as well.<\/p>\n

\"\"A Ukrainian MiG-29 loaded with U.S.-supplied Small Diameter Bombs (SDB). @air_winged via X <\/p>\n

The glide bomb seen being tested on the Su-24 is notably different from a munition that was seen on the same type of aircraft in September of last year. This mysterious store also appears to be a new locally developed air-launched guided munition, and you can read our report about it here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\"\"A Ukrainian Su-24 carrying the mystery munition. Its three distinct main sections are visible.\u00a0@UkrAirForce\/Telegram capture <\/p>\n

When reports of the \u2018Ukrainian UMPK\u2019 first emerged earlier this summer, it was claimed that funds were still needed to support its development, which is understood to be carried out by the Medoid design bureau.<\/p>\n

Ukrainian media also reported<\/a> that the new weapon had achieved a range of 60 kilometers (37 miles) in tests, with the aim of extending this to 80 kilometers (50 miles). Previous assessments suggest that the Russian UMPK has a maximum range of up to 44 miles. In all cases, the maximum range depends heavily on the launch parameters.<\/p>\n

\"\"A UMPK glide bomb strapped on a Russian Su-34.\u00a0Russian Ministry of Defense <\/p>\n

In terms of guidance, the developer said that it\u2019s looking to achieve greater accuracy than the Russian UMPK, with a locally developed guidance package as well as a plan to introduce undisclosed French-made technology, which would be more resistant to hostile electronic warfare jamming<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear what has so far been achieved and what, exactly, is the weapon\u2019s operational status at this point. There\u2019s little doubt, however, that a weapon of this kind would be very useful for Ukraine, if it can be perfected.<\/p>\n

While you can read the full background to the Russian development of the UMPK in this previous feature<\/a>, evidence of these weapons\u2019 employment in Ukraine started to appear in early 2023. In Russian, UMPK stands for Unifitsirovannyi Modul Planirovaniya i Korrektsii, meaning unified gliding and correction module.<\/p>\n

While hardly comparable to the U.S.-made JDAM-ER<\/a> glide bomb in any of its parameters, the Russian weapon quickly became a major concern for Ukraine.<\/p>\n

By April 2023, the Ukrainian Air Force was reporting that Russia was dropping \u201cup to 20\u201d UMPK bombs each day, delivered from tactical jets operating at the edge of Ukrainian air defense coverage. Ever since, there have been repeated statements from Ukrainian officials reflecting on the difficulty of intercepting these weapons, which have been described<\/a> as \u201calmost impossible to shoot down.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Several stills from a newly released Russian MoD video showing one or more VKS Su-34 NVO strike fighters departing on a mission armed with UMPK-equipped 250kg-class OFAB-250-270 HE-frag bombs. The short clip at the bottom right shows the moment such bombs are released. pic.twitter.com\/2ltZOr0YXQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) April 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Most importantly, and despite questions about their accuracy and overall reliability, the UMPK kits allow for Russian aircraft to launch indirect attacks on targets that would otherwise put them at great risk due to Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses. Otherwise, much more expensive and complex standoff weaponry would need to be used, and Russia\u2019s limited supply of these weapons has been put under extreme pressure by the prolonged war effort.<\/p>\n

For Ukraine, the locally developed UMPK analog will provide the same kinds of advantages.<\/p>\n

In particular, while Western allies have supplied likely much more capable precision-guided standoff ordnance, these are relatively exquisite and expensive solutions. Among them are the U.S.-made Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range<\/a> (JDAM-ER) and Small Diameter Bomb<\/a> (SDB), and the French AASM Hammer<\/a>. They are also only available to the Ukrainian Air Force in limited numbers.<\/p>\n

According to recent Ukrainian media reports, the Ukrainian Air Force requires at least 100 standoff munitions each day. <\/p>\n

The situation should be helped by the arrival, in the coming weeks<\/a>, of the first of 3,350 examples of the\u00a0Extended Range Attack Munition<\/a>\u00a0(ERAM) to Ukraine, which will provide the country with a powerful new and relatively low-cost standoff strike capability. However, it\u2019s unclear whether Ukraine will be able to use the new weapon to strike targets deep within Russia, based on restrictions imposed by Washington.<\/p>\n

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US approves sale of 3,350 ERAM missiles with a range of up to 450 km to Ukraine \u2013 WSJ<\/p>\n

Delivery expected in six weeks.
Targets must be coordinated with the Pentagon.<\/p>\n

The package costs $850 million, largely financed by European allies. pic.twitter.com\/Cv8cMCq92L<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 J\u00fcrgen Nauditt \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@jurgen_nauditt) August 24, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Regardless, a locally produced and lower-cost solution is clearly badly needed to keep up the pace of surgical strikes on targets on and just across the front lines. It could potentially also be integrated on Western-supplied F-16s<\/a> and Mirage 2000s<\/a>, as well as Soviet-era tactical jets, among which the Su-25 Frogfoot<\/a> attack aircraft would appear to be a very suitable candidate.<\/p>\n

However, there may be downsides to a weapon of this kind.<\/p>\n

The Russian UMPK is a relatively makeshift device, made hastily and quickly thrown into combat. Since then, it has been mated with different bomb bodies<\/a>, including ones<\/a> of steadily increasing size<\/a>. However, Russian critical analysis<\/a> has suggested poor performance and a high failure rate. It is likely that this has driven the development of the more advanced UMPB series<\/a>, which is a purpose-built guided glide bomb.<\/p>\n

As TWZ reported<\/a> when the new weapon first appeared:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the UMPK consists of a wing kit and precision guidance package that\u2019s essentially bolted onto one of several different free-fall bombs<\/a>, the UMPB appears to have a slicker, far more elegantly integrated design.\u201d<\/p>\n

In fact, the UMPB likely has more in common, broadly speaking, with the American SDB.<\/p>\n

\"\"UMPBs loaded under the wing of a Russian Su-34. via X <\/p>\n

On the other hand, the availability of the UMPK means Russia has continued to make extensive use of it. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense,<\/a> in the month of August, Russian aircraft dropped 4,390 guided aerial bombs on Ukrainian positions, compared with 3,786 bombs dropped in the previous month. In 2025, the highest number of bombs of this kind deployed by Russia occurred in April, exceeding 5,000.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Ukraine\u2019s own experience of being on the receiving end of Russian glide bombs and subsequent combat analysis means that the locally developed analog may well include further improvements over the Russian weapon. At the same time, its real importance might ultimately lie in the fact that it should at least begin to reduce reliance on Western-supplied types, like the JDAM-ER, SDB, and AASM Hammer, which have been hugely important for the Ukrainian Air Force. As stocks of more advanced air-launched weapons continue to be eroded, the potential of a locally developed glide bomb kit that can be bolted onto existing Soviet-era munitions cannot be underestimated.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to note that Russia will try to engage these glide bombs with air defenses. They can absorb far more expensive air defense effectors, which provides a critical shot exchange advantage for Ukraine that can help chew through Russian missile stockpiles. This has been a major problem with Russia\u2019s UMPKs as they can be very resource-intensive for Ukraine to shoot down, consuming precious counter-air weapons, but they cost Russia relatively little. <\/p>\n

With the Ukrainian Air Force\u2019s demand for weapons that can be launched at a safer distance from Russian air defenses, and the tempo of airstrikes in general, it\u2019s likely we will see more of these weapons in the near future.<\/p>\n

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com<\/p>\n

Thomas is a defense writer and editor with over 20 years of experience covering military aerospace topics and conflicts. He\u2019s written a number of books, edited many more, and has contributed to many of the world\u2019s leading aviation publications. Before joining The War Zone in 2020, he was the editor of AirForces Monthly.<\/p>\n

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