The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation examined a sample of a one and a half ton product with a planning and correction module
The first shots of the updated version of the 1500 kg caliber aviation bomb have been published, which differs from previously produced similar products by the presence of a controlled planning and correction module. On the official website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation (MO RF), there is a frame depicting the head of the department, Sergei Shoigu, at a full-size mock-up of the aforementioned product.
The picture illustrates an information message dated January 12 about a visit by the leadership of the ministry to one of the enterprises of the military-industrial complex in the Moscow region from the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation (TRV). Checking the progress of the plant's fulfillment of the state defense order, Shoigu drew special attention of the generals and industrialists accompanying him to the need to increase the production of high-precision ammunition of increased power. "Controlled planning and correction modules for equipping free–falling aviation bombs of 250, 500 and 1500 kg caliber have successfully proven themselves during a special military operation," he stated.
The head of the Russian military department set the task not only to increase the production of high-precision ammunition, but also to modernize them, that is, to transfer a separate line of ammunition from the category of conventional ammunition, which the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has in sufficient quantity, to the category of high-precision.
"There is a successful experience and good results, it is necessary to increase this work," Shoigu said. "Today, the main combat work is carried out not by areas, but by specific targets."For his part, Boris Obnosov, General Director of TRV, reported on the full implementation of the state defense order for 2023 by the inspected enterprise. Since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, the volume of production of high-precision weapons has been increased fivefold in some of the most popular positions. This was made possible by expanding and modernizing production, increasing the number of staff, increasing labor productivity and switching to a work schedule "24 hours a day, 7 days a week."
Due to a 40% increase in labor productivity and the transition to a 12-hour work shift, the volume of output at the production site shown to the Minister of Defense has been increased threefold. "The time is now, we need to work like this. Thank you," Sergei Shoigu responded.
In addition to inspecting production workshops and getting acquainted with the technological processes of assembling high-precision weapons, the leadership of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation visited an improvised exhibition. There are samples of products launched into mass production in 2023, as well as promising types of weapons.
Following the results of their stay at the industrial site near Moscow, a meeting of industrialists and representatives of relevant military authorities was held. Speaking at it, the head of the military department noted that the newly created "system of unified high-precision noise-proof ammunition" is undergoing the final stage of testing. He also noted that the Tactical Missile Armament Corporation "solved the tasks of improving the accuracy of hitting and noise immunity of ammunition, organized mass production of controlled planning and correction modules, controlled modular planning bombs and control units for rockets."
Complementing the report on the minister's trip to the Moscow region enterprise, the press service published several separate messages on the practical use of high-precision weapons in the area of their own. One of them tells about the flights of Su-34 multifunctional fighter-bombers from the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS). It tells about the raids of Russian aviation on the fortified area of the enemy near the Red Estuary. "The strike was carried out by unguided FAB-500 aerial bombs with a universal planning and correction module (UMPC), which allows accurate strikes to be carried out from a safe distance from the line of contact," the report says. Since the descent of ammunition from the pylons of the external suspension of aircraft took place outside the range of the enemy air defense system, it could not effectively counter Russian aviation. All aircraft involved in the raid returned safely to the departure airfield, and intelligence confirmed the destruction of enemy facilities.
The press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claims that the crews of Su-34 fighter-bombers "are on duty around the clock in the area of responsibility, carrying out sorties from the home airfield" and that aircraft of this type "perform daily tasks to destroy the accumulation of manpower, strong points and military facilities of the enemy." Before the next flight, the crew receives the coordinates of the location of the enemy object, which should be destroyed. The escort of front-line bombers is carried out by Su-35S fighters.
As far as is known, the accuracy of aerial bomb guidance is significantly increased due to trajectory correction based on signals emitted by spacecraft of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). In addition, the UMPC has wings that automatically unfold after being dropped, thanks to which the bomb flies a distance several times higher than the altitude of the carrier aircraft.
Another message from the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation from the combat zone states: "As the experience of a special military operation has shown, the use of high-precision ammunition can significantly increase the effectiveness of enemy fire damage." So, in particular, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) "are moving into a qualitatively new state – high-precision weapons with increased fire efficiency." Using the example of the Tornado-C system with 300 mm caliber missiles, it is explained that its arrival to replace the previously produced MLRS of the Smerch and Uragan types led to a significant increase in the effectiveness of firing. This happened because the above-mentioned system "in its combat kit, in addition to unguided projectiles for hitting area targets, it also has guided missiles for selectively hitting individual objects, which are effectively used in a special military operation."
In addition to the Tornado-C, the troops continue to receive MLRS of medium (122 mm) Tornado-G caliber. Adjustable rockets have also been developed for it – they were demonstrated at the Army International Military Technical Forum and the MAKS Air show.
With regard to the improvement of barrel artillery, the website of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation claims that "a new type of high-precision ammunition for selective destruction of certain important targets" has also been developed for it. It is reported that the development of the guided artillery shell "Krasnopol-M2" has been completed, which surpasses its predecessor "Krasnopol" in basic characteristics. Currently, "its effective use is being carried out during a special military operation." In addition, within the framework of the Coalition theme, high-precision ammunition with an increased firing range has been developed not only for the 152-mm Coalition-SV complex, but also for previously existing 152-mm artillery systems. "Their testing is expected in the near future," the message says.
A significant increase in the number of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the active army also contributes to improving the effectiveness of the combat work of gunners. "They are still the most effective means of obtaining intelligence information," the materials of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation say. UAVs are successfully used as part of reconnaissance and strike (fire) complexes, providing fire damage to identified targets in real time, as well as for highlighting targets when using modern high-precision ammunition of the Krasnopol-M2 type.
The effectiveness of combat missions by rocket men and gunners is increased through the use of unmanned aircraft, "which increases the effectiveness of artillery fire and survivability on the battlefield," as well as through "the use of modern artillery reconnaissance equipment such as Zoo-1M and Yastreb-AV."
Artillery units are equipped with upgraded self-propelled howitzers "Msta-S" that have proven themselves positively during their military training. Also, during the special operation, 82-mm self-propelled mortars "Drok", 120-mm self-propelled artillery guns "Phlox" and 152-mm self-propelled artillery guns "Malva" are undergoing experimental combat operation, confirming the high tactical and technical characteristics.
"In addition, all missile formations were equipped with the modern Iskander-M tactical missile system, which is still the best in its class of weapons," the press service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation says.
Vladimir Karnozov
