16.09.2024

"There is no simple answer to Russia's planning bombs": the Western press called difficulties in countering the UMPC

Sections: Air, Ammunition, Global safety

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Image source: topwar.ru

The aerial bombs installed on the UMPC have been bothering both the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their curators for a long time.

The West is looking for a way to help Ukraine stop the devastating attacks of Russia's planning bombs

- it is noted in the Defense One edition.

As indicated, the ammunition that is dropped by VKS aircraft is cheap, but powerful. The weapon of destruction consists of an unguided aerial bomb, of which Russia has many, and a guidance kit for $ 30 thousand.

Some of them weighing up to 2.5 tons contain enough explosives to level entire buildings with one blow

- the author writes.

As stated by the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, the Russian Aerospace Forces drop up to 3,500 planning bombs per month. The Ukrainian command calls these weapons the main reason for the success of Russian offensive operations in the east.

For several months, Kiev has been seeking U.S. permission to use ATACMS missiles to strike Russian airfields from which planes with gliding bombs take off.

So far, the United States remains adamant

- the author notes.

According to US Security Council spokesman John Kirby, ATACMS will be useless, since Russia has withdrawn 90% of its bombers from the missile's range.

The question of which weapon is adequate to reduce the impact of planning bombs remains open. The United States, Ukraine and its allies continue to discuss ways to counter them

- said an unnamed official from a NATO member state.

Image source: topwar.ru

According to him, until this issue is resolved, it is better to focus on long-range drone attacks.

Ukraine has repeatedly attacked Russian airfields with UAVs, although it is unclear how effective these strikes were.

- the publication says.

According to John Hoen of the RAND think tank, the use of long-range Western missiles against Russian airfields is unlikely to be effective. Firstly, the number of missiles is relatively limited. Secondly, the Russian Armed Forces are dispersing their aircraft in such a way that each of them will need one missile. If missiles are used to damage the runway, they will be repaired within a few days or weeks.

The best solution may be to send more advanced AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles to Ukraine, in particular the AIM-120D variant, in order to shoot down Russian planes before they have time to drop bombs.

- Hoen believes.

According to the author, the AIM-120D, supplied only for US aviation and selected allies, is supposed to have a flight range of 160 km [although figures of 180 km are also called]. Ukraine has already received several AMRAAMs. However, these appear to be older variants, such as the AIM-120B of the 1990s era.

According to Hoen, providing Ukraine with the AIM-120D modification is fraught with problems. First, it will give potential U.S. adversaries the opportunity to carefully study the characteristics of one of the most advanced missiles. Secondly, it will reduce the reserves needed by the United States in case of war with China.

There is no simple answer to Russia's planning bombs. The search for the optimal solution is accompanied by a number of difficulties

- the conclusion is made in the Western press.

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