First unexploded American bomb discovered in a Russian forest
The Russian military has discovered an unexploded American Mk.82 aerial bomb in a forest in an unidentified location, according to the Military News UA profile on platform X. This finding is particularly intriguing as it marks the first time that an unexploded aerial bomb of non-Soviet or non-Russian manufacture has been found on the front line, according to the report.
Since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, the Russians have frequently encountered unexploded ordnance of various types on their territory. This is often due to issues with the Russian Federation's military weaponry, which fails to reach the intended target and lands within the aggressor's country because of malfunctions.
Among the recent incidents of this kind is the crash of the Iranian-made Mohajer-6 drone in Russia. On another occasion, the Russians discovered a black Beaver drone near Astrakhan—another drone, this time belonging to the Ukrainians. Due to its camouflage, this equipment must have surprised the Russians with its presence.
The first such discovery in Russia
The Russians must have been just as surprised when they recently found an American-made Mk.82 aerial bomb in an unknown area. The Military News UA profile notes that this is the first instance of unexploded ordnance made by a country other than Russia or the former USSR being found on Russian soil.
It is worth noting that the Mk.82 bomb found in one of the forests in the Russian Federation is fundamentally a general-purpose, free-fall aerial bomb. The ammunition, with a nominal weight of around 230 kg, is one of the smallest but also one of the most commonly used aerial bombs.
This bomb, measuring just over 2.2 metres in length and 28 centimetres in width, houses approximately 87 kg (roughly 192 lbs) of explosive material. The streamlined steel body of the Mk.82 contains a load that is a mixture of two components—TNT (80%) and aluminium powder (20%)—known as tritonal.
The manufacturer ensured that the Mk.82 could be as versatile as possible in armed conflicts. Consequently, different sets of fins, fuses, and retardation systems can be mounted on the Mk.82 bomb. This versatility is a significant advantage, as it allows for the preparation of the most effective ammunition depending on the conditions on the front line.
