{"id":2626,"date":"2026-07-25T21:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T21:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/07\/25\/russia-shows-su-34s-carrying-four-jet-capable-umpk-glide-bombs\/"},"modified":"2026-07-25T21:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T21:02:16","slug":"russia-shows-su-34s-carrying-four-jet-capable-umpk-glide-bombs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/2026\/07\/25\/russia-shows-su-34s-carrying-four-jet-capable-umpk-glide-bombs\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia Shows Su-34s Carrying Four Jet-Capable UMPK Glide Bombs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia-Su-34-Glide-Bomb-1-460x259.jpg\" class=\"webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image\" alt=\"UMPK\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>The new UMPK kit, strapped on to a FAB-500T bomb, has an elongated body with improved aerodynamics and space for a small turbojet motor.<\/h2>\n<p>Russia\u2019s Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers are now flying carrying four bombs equipped with the improved (UMPB\/UMPK) glide bomb kits. The new kits have an elongated body that has the potential to carry a small jet motor.<\/p>\n<p>The first official videos from the Russian Ministry of Defense\u2019s, published on <a href=\"https:\/\/tvzvezda.ru\/news\/2026715129-CH5y9.html\">Jul. 15<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/tvzvezda.ru\/news\/20267232247-qlVSH.html\">Jul. 24<\/a>, 2026, show the Su-34 dropping the bombs.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">15th July 2026 (Russian MoD) <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zwRengtxPy\">pic.twitter.com\/zwRengtxPy<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Piotr Butowski (@piotr_butowski) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/piotr_butowski\/status\/2080580575723688175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The kit is bolted onto the FAB-500T unguided munition \u2013 as it can be seen stencilled in Cyrillic\/Russian on the bomb\u2019s body \u2013 with the entire system identified by Russian \u2018mil bloggers\u2019 and military analysts as the UMPB-5\/UMPK-5R or the UMPB-PD.<\/p>\n<p>The new bomb <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2025\/10\/25\/russia-new-jet-powered-glide-bomb\/\">appeared for the first time in October 2025<\/a> in the Poltava Oblast, in northeast Ukraine, as a near intact, unexploded weapon. At the time, at least some of the photos of the wreckage appeared to show the remains of a turbojet.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"ru\">\u0423\u043b\u0443\u0447\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0440\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0430\u0432\u0438\u0430\u0431\u043e\u043c\u0431\u0430 \u0424\u0410\u0411-500\u0422 \u0441 \u0423\u041c\u041f\u041a, \u043b\u0435\u0442\u0438\u0442 100+ \u043a\u043c, \u0430 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0430\u044f \u0436\u0435, \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0441 \u0440\u0435\u0430\u043a\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0434\u0432\u0438\u0433\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c, \u043d\u0430 200+ \u043a\u043c<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/cqA1xDsIyx\">https:\/\/t.co\/cqA1xDsIyx<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/%D0%B2%D1%81%D1%80%D1%84?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#\u0432\u0441\u0440\u0444<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%85%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B8?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#\u043d\u0430\u043d\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0445\u043d\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0433\u0438\u0438<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/As2Ba2tkhu\">https:\/\/t.co\/As2Ba2tkhu<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/v1n0iA3N7U\">pic.twitter.com\/v1n0iA3N7U<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Necro Mancer (@666_mancer) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/666_mancer\/status\/1980722170461581444?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnH105\/status\/1981490934559773057\">close-up<\/a> of the engine revealed it to be a commercial-off-the-shelf SW800Pro-Y made by Chinese company Swiwin. The images from the same wreckage showed the inscription UMPK-5R.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Photos of the turbojet engine found on Russia\u2019s new UMPB-5R bomb. It\u2019s a commercial-off-the-shelf SW800Pro-Y made by Chinese company Swiwin. A similar model is used in the Banderol and possibly in the new version of the UMPK.<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/bWw595N2RO\">https:\/\/t.co\/bWw595N2RO<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3EMUSPpN5Y\">https:\/\/t.co\/3EMUSPpN5Y<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AQPGDIgEyG\">pic.twitter.com\/AQPGDIgEyG<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Hardie (@JohnH105) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnH105\/status\/1981490934559773057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h3><strong>Russian MoD videos<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The latest visuals do not clearly capture the bombs\u2019 rear end to verify the presence of an engine\u2019s exhaust. This would have helped determine if these weapons were powered or not.<\/p>\n<p>Both the engagements in the videos took place in the jurisdiction of Russia\u2019s Zapad Army Group (Zapad Group of Forces), covering Ukraine\u2019s northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Lugansk. Both the releases saw the Russian MoD officially identifying the Su-34 and the UMPB\/UMPK glide bomb \u2013 something it has been doing for some time \u2013 but it did not specify whether it was jet-powered or not.<\/p>\n<figure aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105819\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia-Su-34-Glide-Bomb-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-105819\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia-Su-34-Glide-Bomb-2-706x397.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"397\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screengrab of the Jul. 15 video showing the four UMPK-5R\/UPMK-PD kitted FAB-500Ts on the Su-34 while it takes off. | Source: Russian MoD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Jul. 15 engagement saw the Su-34 striking the \u201cpersonnel and temporary deployment point of a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit\u201d with \u201caerial bombs equipped with universal gliding and correction modules\u201d after receiving \u201ctarget coordinates from reconnaissance.\u201d This targeting data could be from ground-based Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC)-like teams, using a combination of simple tactical battlefield surveillance drones and hand-held optical devices.<\/p>\n<p>In the Jul. 24 release, the Russian MoD said the Su-34 \u201cmultirole supersonic fighter-bomber\u201d destroyed a Ukrainian \u201cmilitant stronghold\u201d and \u201ccommand post.\u201d Both the videos showed all the four bombs being released, but not the ground targets being hit.<\/p>\n<p>Other videos from this month showing the use of FAB-250, 500, 1500 and 3000 bombs with UMPBs capture overhead drone \u201cobjective control\u201d footage of only the various ground targets being struck, but not the bombs being released. In other words, there are few videos where both the release and target destruction of UMPB-kitted glide bombs are captured together.<\/p>\n<p>Su-34s have otherwise been seen in official and unofficial visuals flying with a mix of glide-bomb loadouts. A Jul. 13 RuMoD video showed a Su-34 taking off with four non-elongated UMPK kits.<\/p>\n<figure aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-105820\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia-Su-34-Glide-Bomb-4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-105820\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Russia-Su-34-Glide-Bomb-4-706x381.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"381\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A screengrab from the Jul. 13, 2026 video showing the Su-34 taking off with four non-elongated UMPK kitted bombs. | Source: Russian MoD<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GuyPlopsky\/status\/2078155957172105719\">Jul. 17<\/a> image from the \u2018AviamiR\u2019 TG channel showed a Su-34 with a mix of the non-elongated UMPK kit-equipped FAB-250-270 bombs, and the more refined UMPK D-30SN \u2013 the Russian equivalent of the GBU-39 SDB.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">A photo recently posted on the \u201cAviamir34\u201d TG channel showing a VKS Su-34 series strike fighter parked in an aircraft shelter armed with UMPK-equipped OFAB-250-270 bombs and UMPB guided glide weapons (reportedly designated \u201cUMPB D-30SN\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>This and other Russian TG channels have\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/V0LCbsQhen\">pic.twitter.com\/V0LCbsQhen<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GuyPlopsky\/status\/2078155957172105719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Other <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnH105\/status\/1973893009168310397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1973893009168310397%7Ctwgr%5E9059adefb89e3a5fd3dca2f5696e74b995e35d81%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.x.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FJohnH105%2Fstatus%2F1973893009168310397\">images<\/a> from last year showed a larger D-30SN loadout.\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Russia has begun putting a preformed frag casing on the UMPB D-30SN bomb.<\/p>\n<p>While some have said the tail fins were also updated, this version was introduced in 2024 (see below).<\/p>\n<p>The bombs in 2nd photo show 8\/17\/25 manufacture date.<\/p>\n<p>(Links in alt text)<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wS3G4MMnBy\">https:\/\/t.co\/wS3G4MMnBy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/D5hp3Jmd7C\">pic.twitter.com\/D5hp3Jmd7C<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 John Hardie (@JohnH105) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JohnH105\/status\/1973893009168310397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>On a different note, the Su-34s in both the Jul. 15 and Jul. 24 videos appear to be the Su-34 NVO variant, that Russian military aviation analysts have noted have a small \u2018bump\u2019 on the spine, behind the cockpit. This has been assessed to be a Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) satellite communication link.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Russian glide bombs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/v\/\"><em>Kommersant<\/em><\/a> reported in October 2025 that the latest version of the UMPK-kit has ranges of up to 100 km and can reach 200 km with a range-extending booster. While this claim should be treated with caution, anywhere close to this distance significantly enhances the standoff capability.<\/p>\n<p>Without a jet motor, the new UMPK kit can take the FAB-500T to a distance of 95-100 km when dropped from 12 km and a speed of about 1,000 km\/hour.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Undated photo (possibly recent), posted on the Aviahub TG channel earlier today, that clearly shows a pair of UMPB D-30SN glide weapons under the port wing of a VKS Su-34 strike fighter. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/L5iPpor7Rq\">pic.twitter.com\/L5iPpor7Rq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Guy Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GuyPlopsky\/status\/1935712376562860440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 19, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The publication further added that the new UMPK-PD\/UMPK-5R kit features an elongated body that improves aerodynamics, enlarged wings, redesigned rear fairings and a different wing deployment mechanism. The UMPK wings seen on the FAB bombs since last year are two-part fold out wings, with the entire bomb turning upward into flight position upon release.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.understandingwar.org\/backgrounder\/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-15-2024\"><em>ISW<\/em><\/a> (Institute for the Study of War), quoting Russian reports, had said that UMPK-kitted FAB-3000, FAB-250 and FAB-1500 have ranges from 50-60 km to 60-70 km, respectively. According to <em>TASS<\/em>, the range of early models did not exceed 50-60 km for the FAB-3000 and 40-70 km for the FAB-250, FAB-500, and FAB-1500.<\/p>\n<p>In the past, Ukrainian media, quoting Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) officials, reported the use of such munitions against targets in the Kharkiv region (Lozovaya, approximately 90 km from the frontline) and the Sumy region (Khoten village, 10 km from the front).<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The bombs are typically released by Su-34 aircraft.<br \/>\nA tandem 2-section wing with a folding main (front) section and a fixed tail section apparently gives extra lift.<br \/>\nJamming of the satellite navigation system is difficult to achieve due to use of multi-element antenna arrays .<br \/>\n2\/ <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/78DaoweYOf\">https:\/\/t.co\/78DaoweYOf<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/Zgb8DrbhRw\">pic.twitter.com\/Zgb8DrbhRw<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Roy<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f1e8-1f1e6.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6\" class=\"wp-smiley\" \/> (@GrandpaRoy2) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/GrandpaRoy2\/status\/1971134440895373390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 25, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ukraine too has <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2026\/05\/19\/ukraine-unveils-new-homegrown-glide-bomb\/\">introduced its own glide bombs<\/a>. However, we are yet to see visuals of that weapon in combat.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The new UMPK kit, strapped on to a FAB-500T bomb, has an elongated body with improved aerodynamics and space for a small turbojet motor. Russia\u2019s Su-34 Fullback fighter-bombers are now flying carrying four bombs equipped with the improved (UMPB\/UMPK) glide bomb kits. The new kits have an elongated body that has the potential to carry [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2627,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zephyrsys.us\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}