A new photo of the Ukrainian counterpart to the UMPK under the wing of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 quickly spread online, sparking a wave of new theories and speculation. At the same time, Defense Express contacted the developers at the Medoid Design Bureau with a request to comment on the new photos and describe the current state of work.
The design bureau confirmed that the photos do show their glide bomb, but they are not new and were taken some time ago during testing. In other words, despite speculation about its combat use, the Ukrainian product has not been used in action.
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A module converting conventional bombs into glide bombs is still in testing. The Design Bureau and Ukraine's Ministry of Defense plan to move it to state trials, a necessary step before adoption into service.
Two months after its public debut, the Ukrainian bomb achieved its target accuracy following extensive work on its navigation systems. The developers' current goal is to achieve a flight range of 80 km at medium altitude.
At the same time, progress is hampered by a lack of funding, as no state funds have been allocated for this project. That is why the production of prototypes and the work on the Ukrainian glide bomb is being carried out at the expense of the developers and with the help of concerned individuals. Ultimately, the estimated cost of the bomb is about $25,000. Naturally, each airborne test adds extra costs to the production of a new prototype.
It should be noted that, visually, the product replicates the design of the russian UMPK, and this was done deliberately. This is a pragmatic decision - to copy what works for the enemy and is suitable for mass production. At the same time, this glide bomb features a new payload, developed considering collaboration with foreign partners and Ukraine's manufacturing capabilities.
However, information about the carrier of this long-range weapon needs to be clarified. A video of a late-June test at a training ground shows the weapon being dropped from a Su-24M frontline bomber. This aircraft is not intended to be its standard carrier, but was used only as a test platform.
Fighter jets serve as carriers for glide bombs and other precision-guided munitions produced in the West. Therefore, testing the product with MiG-29s is a logical step.
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