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Analysis: Russia has reportedly introduced a new weapon to its inventory – and it might still have a good reason to be cautious
By Sean Bell, military analyst
Some reports have suggested the Russian miliary has lost more than 10% of its frontline fighter jets since the start of the conflict.
Over the past few weeks, Russian fighter jets have reportedly been using “glide bombs” to enable the pilots to stand-off further away from the frontline and reduce vulnerability.
In a further sign of growing concerns over the safety of its fighters, the Russians have also reportedly introduced a weapon into their inventory that can enable even greater stand-off ranges.
The UMPB D30 is based on the Russian FAB 250 500lb free-fall bomb, with the addition of a GPS guidance kit to enable precision strike.
The Russians have adapted the bomb to include a small jetpack and fuel tank to further extend its range.
It can be air or land launched, and will reduce the vulnerability of Russian fighters on the frontline.
Earlier, the Ukrainian foreign minister claimed the F-16 fighters would be operating in the skies over Ukraine by mid-summer.
If true, the Russian air force has good reason to be cautious.
However, it’s still not clear what level of capability will be offered with the F-16.
The fighter is an incredibly impressive platform, but the air power capability will be heavily dependent on the weapons and air-to-air missiles provided, the radar, the defensive aids and the electronic warfare capability.
Although the F-16 fighters donated to Ukraine are likely to be at least 30 years old, the internal weapons systems could well have received upgrades to enable them to match – or indeed overmatch – Russian capability.
And Ukrainian pilots are conducting intensive flying training courses in the UK and other nations to ensure they trained and ready for combat operations.
This is a difficult time for Ukraine, with Western military support waning and Russia on the offensive on the frontline; however, the introduction of Western F-16s could offer a significant ray of hope if Ukraine is able to exploit this potent air power capability.