Ukrainian air forces deploy American GBU‑39 bombs against Russian positions
Ukrainian air forces have started using American-guided GBU-39 bombs on post-Soviet aircraft, reports the Defense Express portal, citing The Washington Post. The effectiveness of this weapon is estimated at 90 per cent, which allows Ukrainians to conduct more effective attacks on Russian positions.
The Ukrainians adapted post-Soviet aircraft to use GBU-39 bombs. Recently, photos showing this weapon mounted on pylons, likely of a MiG-29 fighter, have surfaced online. Until now, Ukrainians did not possess the technology to carry and launch such ammunition from the air.
Reports about the installation of GBU-39 on Ukrainian aircraft — according to analysts — may explain some of the recent attacks on Russian positions, including an occupied hospital in Vovchansk. Suspicions that Ukrainians are using the GBU-39 have surfaced recently, but there was no evidence proving that the defenders' army had the technical solutions to drop this weapon from aircraft.
GBU-39 bombs under a Ukrainian aircraft
It is also significant that the GBU-39 bombs are most likely resistant to interference generated by Russian electronic warfare systems. Detecting and intercepting this American ammunition is also difficult due to the missile's small size. During flight, it measures about 1.8 meters in length, just under 0.2 meters in diameter, and 1.4 meters in wingspan. A single bomb weighs nearly 130 kilograms.
The precision of hitting targets with the GBU-39 bomb is also significant. The hit accuracy is estimated at 5–8 meters, which minimizes the risk of hitting a random civilian object. Accuracy is guaranteed not only by the GPS but also by the wings of the bomb, which unfold during the dive phase. Thanks to them, an extensive strike range can also be achieved. It can reach up to 109 kilometres when the ammunition is dropped from a high altitude.
GBU-39 can cause significant devastation on the front, primarily due to its difficulty in detection and potent destructive power. Equipped with a tungsten tip construction (fuselage), it can penetrate concrete shelters made of thick walls, while the detonation system allows for a delayed explosion after impact.
As a result, GBU-39 can penetrate heavily fortified structures and detonate inside them — without the risk that concrete walls will protect the infrastructure from the strike. This is a characteristic that Ukrainians can use, for example, to attack objects occupied by Russians, as well as shelters (e.g., aircraft shelters) where valuable tools (like aeroplanes) are hidden.
