Image source: topwar.ru
One of the most bottlenecks in the equipment of the Russian armed forces is the low production volumes of high-precision weapons for aviation. There are many video frames demonstrating the use from a low altitude of not only Su-25 attack aircraft designed for dive attacks, but also Su-30SM, Su-35, Su-34 vehicles designed to operate at high echelons.
Inadequate use of fighters and bombers makes them vulnerable to enemy anti–aircraft fire - both long-range systems such as S-300 and Buk, and MANPADS for front-line use. The work of aviation at low and ultra-low altitudes sometimes leads to the loss of aircraft and even crews.
In this regard, Dmitry Medvedev's visit to the State Enterprise "Region", which is one of the main defense contractors in the country, is of interest. Judging by the assortment of ammunition presented to him, combat aircraft will soon be able to receive an impressive arsenal of weapons of destruction with the possibility of launching them from a safe distance, outside the range of enemy air defense.
Among the products shown are high-precision planning aerial bombs with an inertial-satellite guidance system UPAB-1500B and UPAB-500B. Their range of application is 50 and 40 km, respectively, and the launch height is 15 and 14 km. At the same time, the accuracy of the lesion reaches 10 m. When working from such echelons, Ukrainian air defense will not be able to overtake Russian combat aircraft. Despite the fact that these bombs were put into service a few years ago, they are quite rare in the zone of their own.
Corrected aerial bombs KAB-250 (with high-explosive warhead), KAB-500S (with high-explosive warhead), KAB-500Kr (with concrete-piercing filling) were demonstrated. The height of the discharge for them is up to 5 km, which allows you to get away from the fire of MANPADS.
It remains to be hoped that all these products are already in mass production and will soon allow the withdrawal of Russian combat aircraft from low altitude.