Russia deploys 'gliding bomb' tactics, Ukraine may lose more land

This tactic shows that Russia has adapted to its limitations, which has helped Moscow gain new victories on the battlefield recently. Ukraine has had difficulty dealing with the threats posed by this new Russian tactic due to a lack of anti-aircraft missiles and a trickle of aid from the West.

Military experts say Ukraine could lose more territory and experienced forces. "The use of glide bombs by Russia really shows how dangerous the Russian military is," George Barros, head of geospatial intelligence and a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), told Business Insider .

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Russia makes progress with glide bombs

Glider bombs allow Russian forces to attack fortified positions from farther away than artillery without risking sending fighter jets into the crosshairs of Ukrainian air defenses. What they lack in accuracy is made up for in firepower, as the bombs can weigh up to 3 tons.

Their short flight time, small radar signature and non-ballistic trajectory make them difficult to intercept. Ukraine has long warned that they could pose a serious problem, and the past few months have borne out those concerns.

Scene of an attack in Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine) on March 28, 2024

In a report released last week, analysts at ISW said that Russian forces have significantly increased attacks with guided and unguided glide bombs targeting Ukrainian positions in the rear and front lines since early 2024.

Russia’s capture of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka has proven the effectiveness of the “gliding bomb” tactic and marked the biggest advance in nearly a year. Experts say that rather than accuracy, the large number of glide bomb attacks will shake the morale of Ukrainian soldiers, thereby creating a lasting impact in the future.

According to Mr. Barros, the Russian side is understanding how to conduct attacks on Ukraine's cities and important infrastructure to quickly deplete Ukraine's air defense system.

"When Ukrainian air defenses are limited, Russia will use fixed-wing aircraft to carry out attacks with glide bombs. If Ukraine had better air defenses, they could prevent the enemy from using glide bombs by forcing aircraft further away from the front line," Mr. Barros added.

Russia uses glide bombs to destroy all Ukrainian fortifications

In the event of further deterioration of Ukraine's air defense capabilities, it may be necessary to consider worse scenarios where the Russian air force could operate over Ukrainian skies unhindered, Mr. Barros said.

Ukraine could lose more territory

Russian aircraft have dropped more than 3,500 bombs on Ukrainian positions in the past three months, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Lieutenant General Ivan Gavrylyuk wrote in a March 18 editorial for the Ukrinform news agency. He said the figure was much higher than last year.

Russia has found an effective tactic and is rapidly ramping up production of glide bombs. Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said production of several types of munitions is increasing, including the FAB-500 (500 kg), FAB-1500 (1.4 tons) and FAB-3000 (3 tons) - all of which are believed to be modified and turned into glide bombs.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky calls for military aid from partners March 20, 2024

According to Justin Bronk, an air force expert at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI-UK), many Russian glide bombs are being dropped at distances of up to 50 km or more behind the front lines, making it difficult for Ukraine to attack these aircraft with existing air defense systems, other than the US-made MIM-104 Patriot system.

Glide bombs are often used against fixed targets, meaning they are particularly effective in areas where there has been prolonged fighting, such as Avdiivka, where Ukrainian positions are relatively easy to spot.

“That makes it possible to plan glide bomb attacks on fixed targets. They pack more explosives than artillery shells or missiles, especially the 1.5-ton bombs,” Bronk explained. As a result, the bombs have a greater psychological impact than artillery.

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To reduce the threat from glide bombs, Ukraine needs to significantly increase its air defense interceptors and artillery. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said that Ukraine’s existing air defense arsenal is insufficient to protect the country from mass attacks, and has called on its partners to increase aid.

The US is still holding back on additional aid to Ukraine, leaving Kyiv increasingly short of essential military equipment, including air defense capabilities and ammunition. Last week, the White House stressed that the US providing more air defense equipment to Ukraine is "critical".

The strength of Russian glide bombs, a huge advantage in artillery, Ukraine's increasingly depleted arsenal and the bleak prospects for further aid from the US and the West are all factors that are turning the war situation against Kyiv. "Without the US approving additional aid, it will be difficult for Ukraine to avoid the risk of losing more territory, especially when Russia is likely to launch a major offensive in the summer," Bronk said.

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