Guided aerial bomb UPAB-1500B-E
Air bomb UPAB-1500B with a non-standard inscription. Photo Telegram / "Military informant"
Russian combat aviation, involved in the Special Military Operation, constantly strikes at enemy targets and targets. For this, various means of destruction are used, including guided high-precision weapons. The other day it became known that the strike aircraft ammunition includes a new corrected aerial bomb UPAB-1500B-E. Not so long ago, it appeared only at exhibitions, but now it is used in a real operation.
On photo and video
The Ministry of Defense regularly publishes photographs and videos showing the combat work of the army and the use of modern weapons. Similar materials constantly come from unofficial sources. At the same time, samples of the latest models, used for the first time in a real operation, regularly get into the frame.
So, a few days ago, an unofficial photo showing a kind of bomb under the wing of a Russian aircraft was distributed on specialized resources. On its body, the inscription “For the Kuryans!” Was made by hand. Although the marking on the bomb was closed, it was quickly identified as the product UPAB-1500B(-E), also known as K029BE.
On March 20, the Ministry of Defense published a video dedicated to the combat work of the Hero of Russia, military pilot Viktor Dudin. Together with his comrades, he flies on Su-35S fighters, and the equipment of the unit also got into the frame. On the external suspension of fighters preparing for departures, there were several types of air-to-air missiles and anti-radar Kh-31P. In addition, the UPAB-1500B bomb could be seen again.
UPAB-1500B under the wing of the Su-35S. Frame from the report of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
It is obvious that such products are suspended on aircraft not for the sake of filming. They are used for their intended purpose and delivered to the intended targets. However, the Ministry of Defense has not yet demonstrated the process and results of using the UPAB-1500B. However, another option is also possible. When publishing various materials, the department does not always specify the type of weapons used. And among the unnamed high-precision samples, the K029BE bomb could well have been.
One way or another, it should be expected that in the near future the UPAB-1500B-E aerial bomb will again appear in open materials of one kind or another. It can again be shown under the wing of the carrier or in the process of hitting the target.
Promising armament
The promising guided bomb K029BE / UPAB-1500B-E was developed at the State Research and Production Enterprise "Region" (part of the Corporation "Tactical Missiles") in the second half of the tenth years. The aim of the project was to create a high-precision bomb with an increased drop range, capable of hitting protected ground and surface targets.
At the beginning of 2019, the management of the "Region" reported that the UPAB-1500B had successfully passed all the necessary tests and was adopted by the Russian Aerospace Forces. By that time, mass production had begun, and the first batch of products was transferred to the customer. It was also reported that there were export orders, the deliveries of which were supposed to start in 2020.
UPAB-1500B-E / K029BE at one of the exhibitions. Photo SNNP "Region"
In the same year, the first public demonstration of new weapons took place. Models of the K029BE product and other new developments were presented at the MAKS-2019 salon. In the future, new bombs participated in other domestic exhibitions.
Technical issues
The UPAB-1500B product is a large-caliber guided glide bomb capable of hitting small immovable objects with known coordinates with high accuracy. The mass of the bomb reaches 1525 kg, of which 1010 kg falls on the warhead.
The bomb is built in a cylindrical body approx. 5 m and 400 mm in diameter. The hull has a solid hemispherical nose fairing and a tapered tail section. Four triangular planes of a folding structure are fixed on the central part of the body. The wing is divided into a fixed part and a console. The latter is located inside the fixed part and moves out after being reset.
K029BE is equipped with a combined guidance system based on inertial and satellite navigation. The principle "launched and forgotten" is being implemented; provided immunity to interference. QUO is declared at the level of 10 m.
The main part of the hull is a high-explosive concrete-piercing warhead. There is a contact fuse with three deceleration modes. Depending on the type of target, the detonation is performed on touch or with a specified delay - to destroy buildings from the inside. Barrier penetration parameters are not disclosed.
View from a different angle. Photo SNNP "Region"
UPAB-1500B is compatible with all major domestic front-line aircraft. It can be carried by multi-role fighters, front-line bombers and attack aircraft. The allowable size of ammunition load depends on the characteristics of the carrier. Dropping the product is allowed in a wide range of carrier speeds from a height of up to 15 km. With optimal release parameters, the bomb can fly up to 50 km.
Features and Benefits
In general, the UPAB-1500B-E / K029BE bomb is a modern and effective aviation weapon. Due to the incorporated technical solutions, high performance and wide combat capabilities were obtained. All this has been confirmed during past tests and development. weapons at the landfills. Now the new air bomb gets the opportunity to show its potential in a real operation.
One of the main goals of the UPAB-1500B project was to increase the flight range. Due to the improvement of aerodynamics and other solutions, this parameter was brought up to 50 km. The bomb can be dropped far beyond the enemy's air defense zones, which dramatically reduces the risks for the carrier aircraft.
Important advantages are provided by the combined guidance system. Satellite navigation provides high hitting accuracy, and inertial gives noise immunity. At the same time, the power and power of a heavy warhead to a certain extent compensate for any expected deviation from the aiming point.
Bomb in flight configuration. Photo "Rosoboronexport"
The warhead of the UPAB-1500B is designed to combat fortified and protected enemy targets. It is able to break through ceilings and undermine inside the structure; it is also possible to apply on surfaces. The concrete-piercing effect is complemented by the large mass of the warhead, and this improves the possible results of the application.
At the same time, the aerial bomb faces some limitations. So, inertial-satellite correction does not allow you to independently find targets or attack moving objects - K029BE can only deal with stationary targets. In addition, it should be taken into account that a concrete-piercing warhead gives all the desired effects only when attacking protected buildings, and in other situations it is redundant and unprofitable economically. Not in all circumstances it makes sense to use an increased flight range.
Element of the system
Thus, UPAB-1500B(-E) or K029BE has high performance and is also a convenient and efficient tool. However, this aerial bomb cannot be considered a universal tool for any operation. It was created to deal with protected structures or other similar targets, and only on them shows its full potential.
In addition to the UPAB-1500B, the Russian Aerospace Forces are armed with a number of other guided and free-fall bombs of various calibers with different guidance means and characteristics. Thanks to this, front-line aviation gets the opportunity to choose weapons in accordance with the assigned combat mission. If you need to hit a firing point or a bunker, K029BE comes into play, and in other situations you can use other weapons, incl. simple unguided bombs.
As follows from the latter News and materials, the Aerospace Forces actively use all the ammunition they have and realize their potential. One of the tasks facing them is to destroy the protected objects of the enemy - and for this, UPAB-1500B concrete-piercing bombs are hung on the planes.
Information