Here’s How F-16s in Ukraine Could Stop Russian Glide Bombs
On November 20, 2023, Ukrainian intelligence officer Tatarigami_UA highlighted the growing threat posed by Russian glide bombs in a short analysis on X.
It’s definitely worth a look if you have the time.
These bombs, which are essentially retrofitted dumb bombs with wings, lack precision but cause massive destruction, posing a significant challenge for Ukrainian forces on the front lines.
Russian glide bombs are typically 500–1500 kilograms, making them significantly more powerful than a standard 49.5-kilogram 152mm artillery shell — by a factor of 10 to 30.
Even with their rudimentary guidance systems, these bombs can strike with greater accuracy than a typical artillery barrage. Their large destructive explosions, like those observed in targeted areas such as Avdiivka, are right out of the Russian military playbook of indiscriminate mass destruction.
Last fall, there were 45 glide bomb strikes along the Dnipro River in a single week!
While this may not seem like a large number, the sheer power of these bombs makes them a massive threat. You can see the mammoth size of the explosions compared to relative buildings in Avdiivka in this video:
