Ukrainian aircraft have started using GBU-39/B SDB bombs resistant to Russian electronic warfare devices
Ukrainian Air Force aircraft are armed with US GBU-39/B SDB bombs. This was first reported by The Washington Post, and later photos of the armament appeared.
Here's What We Know
According to the Reuters news agency, the accuracy of the US weapons used by the Ukrainian Defence Forces has fallen due to the effective use of electronic warfare by the Russians. Against this background, the appearance of Ukraine's GBU-39/B SDB aerial bombs looks like a very important and timely reinforcement.
Now confirmed, Ukrainian Air Force fighters have been modified to carry US-supplied GBU-39 SDB precision guided glide bombs
- OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) May 25, 2024
This Fulcrum appears to be fitted with a pair of BRU-61 Carriage Systems, allowing it to carry up to *8* SDBs. pic.twitter.com/A5FCqDX0a0
According to journalists at The Washington Post, the GBU-39/B SDB has proven to be very effective and resistant to jamming. In particular, it is said about the successful use of 90% of the dropped bombs. It should be noted that the supply of GBU-39/B SDB has not been officially announced.
The carrier of the bombs is the Soviet MiG-29 fighter aircraft. For this purpose, it is equipped with a standard BRU-61 beam carrier, which allows the aircraft to carry up to eight small-diameter bombs, i.e. half as many as the A-10 Thunderbolt II.
The GBU-39/B SDB is 1.8 metres long and 19 cm wide. The small diameter bomb weighs 122kg. The maximum launch range is 110 kilometres, but it is not certain that Soviet fighters can reach this figure.
Source: The Washington Post
