Countering the Glide Bombs Threat in the Ukrainian Conflict

Abstract

The integration of emerging technologies in the Ukrainian conflict plays an important role in the conduct of military actions and generally manages to capture the attention of military analysts in terms of characteristics, potential effects, or potential impact. Of similar importance in the conduct of the conflict is the revision or adaptation of old technologies to the current operational needs of force structures. The conflict in Ukraine provides the context for the revival and innovative use of classic weapon systems and munitions to meet the needs of combat forces. This paper deals with such an adapted use of classic aviation bombs in a gliding kit version, which has practically enabled the Russian Air Force to perform its basic missions in a new way. In the first phase, the focus of the paper is on describing the threat posed by glide bombs and their potential impact on the conduct of military actions, and in the second phase, I have presented possible ways of countering glide bombs, emphasizing the efforts of the Ukrainian forces and its allies to limit the number of glide bomb attacks. In carrying out the paper, I explored open sources of information through the method of documentary analysis in order to synthesize the most relevant aspects of the use and counteraction of glide bombs in the Ukrainian conflict. The results of the investigations emphasize the interest of the Ukrainian forces and their allies in identifying the most effective methods of adapting military actions to the new reality of the operational environment while also countering the threat posed by the mass use of glide bomb attacks.