Guided complex of missile and bomb weapons "Thunder" in the Special Operation
The Grom ammunition at one of the domestic exhibitions. Photo by Rosoboronexport
Recently, the Russian Aerospace Forces received a unique guided missile and bomb weapon system called "Grom". Since last year, the Russian military has been using it to strike Ukrainian targets. So far, only a few episodes of its use are known, but even in this case, the system is of great interest.
Combat application
The first information about the possible use of the guided missile and bomb weapon system (GBMW) "Grom" was reported in March 2023, during the battle for the settlement of Avdiivka. At that time, the enemy discovered fragments of an unknown device near its positions - probably an aircraft weapon.
It was a fragment of a cylindrical body with a wing that had a folding mechanism. There was no marking on the wreckage that would allow the type of product to be determined. However, the characteristic external appearance of the wreckage led to the emergence of a version about the use of a bomb or missile from the Grom complex.
It is unknown why large fragments of the munition ended up on the ground. It may have fallen and been destroyed by external impact or due to a breakdown. Unfortunately, not all new products can demonstrate 100% efficiency.
Given the specifics of the VKS work, there is reason to believe that other products from the UK RBV "Grom" were used in that period and in that direction. The enemy did not find their fragments, and this is an indirect confirmation of the effectiveness of such weapons.
The Grom product, side view. Photo by Rosoboronexport
Subsequently, new information about the use of the UK RBV "Grom" in different directions appeared several times. Messages of this kind were received quite rarely, which could indicate episodic use of the new weapon. It seems that the new complex is not used actively and only complements other ASP in certain situations.
A curious episode occurred several days ago. On August 31, the Russian Aerospace Forces launched a series of strikes against the enemy in the city of Kharkov. After clearing the rubble of one of the destroyed objects, the Ukrainian city leadership stated that a Grom-E1 guided bomb was used in the strike.
Unlike previous episodes, no evidence was provided for this. No details followed either. Did our aviation in this strike the newest ammunition is unknown. It is worth noting that the Kharkov leadership for some reason mentioned the export version of the guided bomb, which has the letter "E" in its name. This probably indicates the level of its knowledge of Russian weapons.
Modern development
The Tactical Missile Weapons Corporation first spoke about the RBV Grom project back in 2015 at the MAKS aerospace show. Mock-ups of new ammunition in export performance were presented, and some features of the project were revealed, such as goals and objectives, key decisions, and the main tactical and technical characteristics of finished products.
In mid-2017, KTRV reported that it had conducted flight tests of two munitions of the new family. They were tested in the conditions of the proving ground and demonstrated their capabilities when working with standard carriers. This stage was planned to be completed in the coming months.
Presumably, debris from the Grom product, March 2023. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
In August 2019, at the forum “Army» KTRV announced the readiness of the new products "Grom-E1" and "Grom-E2" for serial production. The corporation was ready to accept orders, manufacture export ammunition and send them to customers.
According to various sources, during this period the possibility of adopting the UK RBV "Grom" into service with the Russian Aerospace Forces was considered. This issue was successfully resolved, as a result of which the relevant documents were issued, and KTRV launched production of the new weapon. However, there is no exact information about the start date of production and deliveries of "Grom", the size of the order, etc.
Since at least last spring, Grom products have been used in the Special Operation. They are used by frontline aviation along with other types of ASP. At the same time, the new UK RBV plays an auxiliary role for now. Grom series products, due to their limited quantity, are used only in individual cases as a kind of supplement to other weapons.
Unified designs
"Grom" is a complex of guided aircraft weapons with a modular architecture. It consists of several modules for various purposes, which can be combined to create ammunition of the required type with the required characteristics.
The Thunder is based on some of the developments and components of the Kh-38 air-to-surface missile. However, the new project used completely new architectural and layout solutions, which led to significant differences between the Thunder and the previously created missile.
View from another angle. You can see the wing folding mechanism. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
"Thunder" consists of five main devices: the main warhead module (MBCho), the additional warhead module (MBChd), the planning and control module (PCM), the propulsion module (PMU) and the steering drive module (SDM).
The warhead and propulsion modules are made in cylindrical housings; the MBCh has an ogive fairing. The diameter of the modules is 310 mm, and their length is 2,35 m for the main warhead and 1,13 m for the additional one. The main warhead can be equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation charge weighing 315 kg or a volumetric detonating charge weighing 250 kg. The additional warhead can have a high-explosive fragmentation charge weighing 165 kg or a thermobaric charge weighing 120 kg.
The planning and control module is equipped with a folding wing for flight to the target. It also houses the autopilot, which issues commands to the MRP, and the satellite and inertial navigation systems. It was also reported that a homing head could be developed for the Grom.
The autopilot guides the bomb or missile to the target using pre-loaded coordinates. Such a control system is capable of flying along a simple trajectory or maneuvering. For example, it is claimed that it is possible to launch a missile/bomb into the rear hemisphere relative to the carrier aircraft, although this reduces the maximum range.
The MBChO, MDU, MPU and MRP modules are used to assemble the 9-A-7759 or Grom-1 (export version Grom-E1) guided air missile. Its total weight reaches 594 kg, and it is capable of delivering a warhead to a range of up to 120 km.
Architecture of the product "Thunder". Graphics of KTRV
The Grom-2 or 9-A1-7759 (export version of the Grom-E2) is a gliding guided bomb. It includes two warhead modules with a total load of up to 480 kg, as well as gliding and rudder modules. Due to the lack of an engine, the flight range is reduced to 65 km.
The Grom is carried by all the main aircraft of the domestic frontline aviation, primarily the Su-34 frontline bombers. However, it can also be carried by fighter-bombers of current models. The drop is carried out at a speed of up to 1200 km/h and an altitude of up to 10 km.
Modular approach
The UK RBV "Grom" is an interesting example of the use of a modular approach to the creation of airborne weapons. KTRV developed a set of modules based on an existing missile, from which it is possible to assemble ammunition of different classes with the required characteristics.
The modular architecture of the Grom project simplifies and reduces the cost of mass production of missiles and bombs of the complex. Common control components significantly facilitate preparation and combat use.
The idea of two warhead modules deserves special attention. This allows the operator to choose between a missile with a longer range and a bomb with a more powerful warhead. Such a complex should be a flexible combat instrument.
The Russian Aerospace Forces have long tested the new UK RBV "Grom" and gave it a high rating. As a result, the complex entered service. Now missiles and bombs from its composition are regularly used in the current Special Operation and successfully hit targets.
"Thunder" on tests. Photo by KTRV
However, apparently, they are not used very often. The reason for this may be the novelty of the Grom products, as well as the availability of other means of destruction. The VKS is armed with many other missiles and bombs with high combat characteristics. In a number of situations, they are more convenient and effective.
For example, standard high-explosive aerial bombs with a mounted planning and correction module (UMPK) are widely used. They demonstrate combat qualities no worse than those of the Grom, but are much simpler and cheaper to produce. There is also a whole range of aviation missiles with different combat loads and flight ranges.
However, each type of weapon is designed to solve its own range of tasks. In certain situations, the Grom-1 and Grom-2 products can show the best results and outperform other models. It seems that such situations do not occur often, but they have their own weapons in the form of the new UK RBV.
Extended nomenclature
The Russian defense industry is constantly working on new types of ASP, and this leads to a gradual expansion of the VKS arsenals. One of the latest innovations in this area was the RBV "Grom" UK. Several years ago, it passed all the necessary tests, and since 2023 it has been used in real air strikes.
The Grom project shows that KTRV and its enterprises are capable of proposing and successfully implementing completely new ideas in the field of weapons. Due to fundamentally new developments, new niches are created and filled, and combat aviation gets the opportunity to improve its strike capabilities.
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