Ukraine's MiG‑29s wage precision strikes on key Russian positions

Ukrainians use their increasingly modest number of combat aircraft to strike key Russian positions. The most popular machine among Ukrainians is the MiG-29 aircraft, integrated with Western glide bombs. We explain how they are used and the techniques involved.

The Ukrainian Air Force currently has a limited number of pre-war planes, including the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-24 strike aircraft, and assault Su-25. The Russians tirelessly hunt them, and unfortunately, they sometimes succeed in destroying real planes instead of decoys.

The situation is expected to improve with the delivery of F-16s, which will be fewer than anticipated, likely due to a shortage of trained pilots and Mirage 2000s. Until then, Ukraine is compelled to use what it has, and the MiG fleet is in the best condition through refurbishment with aircraft acquired from Slovakia and Poland.

Ukrainian MiGs have been seen with AASM Hammer, JDAM-ER, and GBU-39 SDB-guided bombs. These are mounted improvised using an adapter that includes part of a tower from an aircraft compatible with NATO standards and is attached to the proper MiG pylon. Target coordinates are uploaded before takeoff or added manually by the Ukrainian pilot via an additional tablet in the cockpit connected to the weapon's rail.

Judging by the explosion in the recording below, a heavier bomb weighing at least 250 kilograms struck the Russian position. This indicates an AASM Hammer or JDAM-ER.

JDAM-ER (Joint Direct Attack Munition - Extended Range) are advanced guided bombs that precisely target distant objectives. They are equipped with GPS and INS (Inertial Navigation System) modules, ensuring high accuracy within a few metres. However, their precision is reduced if electronic warfare systems disrupting satellite navigation operate nearby.

On the other hand, foldable wings that allow the bomb to glide after being dropped from high altitudes provide a range of up to 70 kilometres. This is problematic because, in such cases, the carrier is easily detectable by, for example, medium-range surface-to-air missile systems capable of shooting down aircraft over distances of more than 100 kilometres.

One way to minimise the risk is to fly at low altitudes and climb shortly before the bomb release to provide them greater range. For JDAMs, this will be only a few kilometres. Still, it looks different in the case of French AASM Hammer (Armement Air-Sol Modulaire Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range) bombs.

These are additionally equipped with a rocket engine providing a range of up to 15 kilometres in such drop conditions. They also have a more advanced set of guidance heads based on a laser beam or an infrared sensor that sees the thermal image of the target. Such guidance heads allow for targeting with an accuracy of less than one metre, even moving targets in any conditions. Still, they are expensive or require, for example, an observer illuminating the target with a laser beam.

Both modules are designed to be mounted on standard air bombs Mk 82/83/84 weighing 230 kilograms, 450 kilograms (JDAM-ER only), and 910 kilograms. This is a highly effective tool, which the Russians have also learned to use extensively by deploying FAB bombs with UMPK modules to bomb Ukrainians.