{{Short description|Russian glide bomb kit}} {{Infobox weapon | name = UMPK<br/>УМПК | image = FAB-500T with a UMPK kit.png | caption = FAB-500T with a UMPK kit | origin = Russian Federation | type = Glide bomb | is_explosive = Yes | service = 2023–present | used_by = Russian Armed Forces | wars = {{Tree list}} *Russo-Ukrainian war {{Tree list/end}} }}
The '''UMPK''' ({{langx|ru|УМПК; Унифицированный модуль планирования и коррекции}}, Unified gliding and correction module) is a munition guidance kit first developed by the Russian Bazalt Design Bureau for converting unguided Soviet bombs into precision-guided glide bombs. This kit is an aerial bomb glide range extension kit, similar to the American Joint Direct Attack Munition Extended Range (JDAM-ER) and thus it was sometime nicknamed "Russian JDAM". The guidance system and gliding function of the UMPK kit can provide ordinary aerial bombs with longer-range and more accurate strike capabilities. They have been widely used by the Russian Air Force during the Russo-Ukrainian war.
== History == A guided glide kit for Soviet/Russian bombs was first proposed by NPO Bazalt in 2002 as a low-cost device that could be fitted to bombs to increase their range and accuracy. Its prototype was first displayed at the Farnborough Airshow. The kit, then called the MPK, included four variants ranging in price and capabilities: the first module consisted of just retractable wings; the second added a simple inertial navigation system; the third included satellite navigation; and the fourth had a pulsejet engine. The project was displayed for several years but was never put into production, probably because the Russian military did not anticipate prolonged conflicts requiring large quantities of cheap armaments, and because Russian defense contractors preferred to produce more expensive and profitable guided bombs.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Butowski |first=Piotr |date=2023-07-19 |title=The Truth About Russia’s Mysterious Winged Glide Bombs |url=https://www.twz.com/the-truth-about-russias-mysterious-winged-glide-bombs |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:UMPK droop.gif|thumb|FAB-500 bombs with UMPK kits deploying their wings]] At the beginning of January 2023, Russian users on social networks shared a photo of the FAB-500 M-62 with an attached kit resembling a JDAM. The "artisan" quality of the kit may have indicated it was a prototype.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Fighterbomber |date=5 January 2023 |title=Кто там хотел православный JDAM? |trans-title=Who out there wanted an honest-to-God JDAM? |url=https://t.me/fighter_bomber/10330 |access-date=2024-04-23 |website=Telegram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Російський аналог JDAM: звідки взявся, наскільки реальний та як у РФ тим самим розписались у безпорадності "Гефеста" |trans-title=The Russian analogue of JDAM: where did it come from, how real is it, … |url=https://defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/rosijskij_analog_jdam_er_zvidki_vzjavsja_ta_jak_u_rf_rozpisalis_u_bezporadnosti_gefesta-10205.html |date=2023-01-05 |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=defence-ua.com |language=uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=У Росії тестують модуль планування і корекції авіабомб ФАБ-500 |trans-title=Russia is testing the FAB-500 bomb planning and correction module |url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/u-rosiyi-testuyut-modul-planuvannya-i-korektsiyi-aviabomb-fab-500/ |date=2023-01-05 |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=mil.in.ua |language=uk}}</ref>
At the end of March 2023, the spokesman of the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ignat, reported that the Russian military began to use winged modified aerial bombs with a warhead weighing {{cvt|500|kg}} more often. Russian planes drop them from a distance of tens of kilometers on targets in the front-line zone without entering the Ukrainian air defense range.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-30 |title=Ігнат розповів про нову загрозу: авіація рф щодня скидає десятки бомб у прифронтовій зоні |trans-title=Ignat on a new threat: Russian aviation drops dozens of bombs daily on the frontline |url=https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-ato/3689344-ignat-rozpoviv-pro-novu-zagrozu-aviacia-rf-sodna-skidae-desatki-bomb-u-prifrontovij-zoni.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=ukrinform.ua |language=uk}}</ref>
In April 2023, an Su-34 accidentally dropped a bomb on the Russian city of Belgorod. Some news outlets quoted Russian milblogger Fighterbomber that the bomb was an UMPK-upgraded one.<ref>{{Cite web |title=У российской авиации, вероятно, появилась технология, способная вернуть ей превосходство в воздухе над ВСУ. Но только теоретически В реальности эта технология могла привести к падению двух российских авиабомб на Белгород |trans-title=Russian aviation may have acquired technology that could restore its air superiority over UAF. But only theoretically. In reality, this technology could be the cause of two Russian bombs dropped on Belgorod |url=https://meduza.io/feature/2023/05/02/u-rossiyskoy-aviatsii-veroyatno-poyavilas-tehnologiya-sposobnaya-vernut-ey-prevoshodstvo-v-vozduhe-nad-vsu-no-tolko-teoreticheski |website=Meduza |language=ru |date=2 May 2023 |access-date=2024-03-13}}</ref>
The UMPK was first publicly acknowledged by Russian MoD in May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Заявление начальника пресс-центра группировки «Запад» |trans-title=Statement by the head of the press centre of the "West" group |url=https://t.me/mod_russia/26284 |date=2023-05-08 |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Telegram}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=УМПК: универсальный модуль для авиабомб |trans-title=UMPK: universal module for aerial bombs |url=https://vz.ru/information/2023/10/23/1235470.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |date=2023-10-23 |website=vz.ru |language=ru}}</ref>
According to a November 2023 investigation by the British NGO Conflict Armament Research, the new UMPK has, among other things, a more complex electronic system including SMART navigation controller and Kometa satellite navigation module.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Russia develops guidance modules for air-dropped munitions |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e4f0a90ddd7d4cd6b1d889704f6b2396 |website=Conflict Armament Research |date=2024-01-18}}</ref>
=== UMPB D-30SN === {{Main|UMPB D-30SN}} In March 2024, photos of the wreckage of a previously unseen Russian ordnance with the "UMPB" marking surfaced in Ukraine. Preliminary analysis of the wreckage told that UMPB is a type of air-launched weapon that has a FAB-250 bomb integrated into the guidance-and-glide kit, with inertial and satellite navigation systems, ailerons, and actuators at its aft end, with a jet engine and fuel tank inside the weapon as well. Russian milblogger Fighterbomber identified this weapon as '''UMPB D-30SN''' ({{Langx|ru|УМПБ; Универсальный межвидовой планирующий боеприпас}}, Versatile intermediate gliding munition). According to the blogger, "intermediate" means its standing between different types of ordnance and the fact it can be launched from various platforms, such as Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems, as well as from aircraft. No other specifications were mentioned.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UMPB Extended-Range Bomb Created in Russia, Deployed by Aircraft or Tornado-S Ground Launchers |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/news/umpb_extended_range_bomb_created_in_russia_deployed_by_aircraft_or_tornado_s_ground_launchers-9780.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}</ref>
In May 2024, a high-quality image of the UMPB D-30SN long-range glide bomb has appeared for the first time. The picture showed a Su-34 releasing four UMBP bombs. The location of the release point allowed to estimate that the attack range of the UMPB could be up to {{Convert|90|km|mi|abbr=on}}, which is {{Convert|20 to 30|km|mi|abbr=on}} higher than the UMPK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Operating Range of Russia's New UMPB D-30 Glide Bomb Revealed |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/operating_range_of_russias_new_umpb_d_30_glide_bomb_revealed-10621.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=en.defence-ua.com |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2024, a piece of an UMPB was found in the wreckage of an S-70 UAV which was shot down by Russians after losing control and entering the Ukrainian airspace, indicating that the UAV was used as a carrier for UMPB bombs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=БПЛА С-70 "Охотник" це все ж таки "бомбовіз" КАБів: яка реальна загроза та ідея ворога |trans-title=S-70 "Okhotnik" UAV is a GBU "bomb carrier" after all: what is the real threat and the enemy's idea |url=https://defence-ua.com/news/bpla_s_70_ohotnik_tse_vse_zh_taki_bomboviz_kabiv_jaka_realna_zagroza_ta_ideja_voroga-16822.html |access-date=2024-10-07 |website=defence-ua.com |language=uk}}</ref>
===Ukrainian program===
In June 2024, the Ukrainian Air Force announced a similar program to create an analog of the UMPK bombs. Serhii Golubtsov, commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in an interview, that the wings, command module and GPS had to be worked out. In August, the Ukrainian Air Force released footage of a Su-24M testing a similar bomb. This weapon appears to have X shaped control fins and an outlet for a possible rocket booster or a jet engine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ukraine to Test Home-Grown Glide Bomb|url=https://thedefensepost.com/2024/06/17/ukraine-home-glide-bomb/ |website=The Defense Post |author=INDER SINGH BISHT |date=2024-06-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Su-24M with Ukrainian glide bomb spotted during tests|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/su-24m-with-ukrainian-glide-bomb-spotted-during-tests/ |website=mil.in.ua |date=2024-09-06}}</ref>
On 25 June 2025, Ukrainian defense contractor KB Medoid unveiled a glide bomb kit for FAB-500 bombs with a range of 60 kilometers. The kit closely mirrors the UMPK and was likely reverse-engineered from captured Russian kits. The developers plan to integrate French technology to avoid satellite jamming and to increase the range up to 80 kilometers.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Ukraine’s new FAB-500 glide module eyes 80km, rivals UMPK |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2025/06/25/ukraines-new-fab-500-glide-module-eyes-80km-rivals-umpk/ |author= Boyko Nikolov |access-date=2025-06-26|website= bulgarianmilitary |language=en}}</ref>
=== Ukrainian countermeasures === In 2025, WarTranslated author Dmitri Masinski reported on a leak from Russian pilot Fighterbomber on Telegram that Ukrainian forces had begun jamming Russian UMPK-equipped glide bombs, significantly reducing their accuracy, causing Russia to need up to 16 bombs to hit a target. David Axe reported on this for Forbes, adding that the jamming additionally had disrupted Russian drones, forcing a switch to fiber-optics.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |title=Ukraine Is Jamming Russian Glide Bombs All Along The Front Line |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2025/02/26/ukraine-is-jamming-russian-glide-bombs-all-along-the-front-line-erasing-one-of-russias-main-battlefield-advantages/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2025, Ukraine was testing a new interception system that combined drones, radar and Artificial Intelligence to shot down UMPK-equipped glide bombs.<ref>{{Cite web |author= LILIANA OLENIAK |title= Ukraine working on interceptors for countering Russian guided aerial bombs |url= https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukraine-working-on-interceptors-for-countering-1761333980.html |date= 24 October 2025 |access-date=1 December 2025|website= newsukraine.rbc.ua |language=en}}</ref> The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine claimed to have destroyed over 100 UMPK glide bombs between September and October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |author= BOHDAN BABAIE |title= Ukraine working on interceptors for countering Russian guided aerial bombs |url= https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukraine-tests-new-systems-to-counter-russian-1764531051.html|date=30 November 2025 |access-date=1 December 2025|website= newsukraine.rbc.ua |language=en}}</ref>
== Description == The UMPK aerial bomb glide kit is designed to convert traditional unguided bombs into precision-guided munitions to provide greater strike accuracy. It is a welded structure featuring two deployable wings and tail control surfaces. It functions as a self-contained flight assembly to which an aerial bomb is attached, with or without a nose fairing. The maximum attack range depends on the altitude and trajectory of the aircraft at the moment of release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-25 |title=Russia is winging its dumb bombs just before a combat flight |url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/07/25/russia-is-winging-its-dumb-bombs-just-before-a-combat-flight/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=BulgarianMilitary.com}}</ref>
Unlike the similar American JDAM kit, the UMPK can be fitted to a bomb in field conditions, rather than at a factory or a specialized workshop, as there is no need to replace a bomb's tail section.
After the bomb is released, the wings are deployed by a spring-loaded mechanism actuated by a pyrotechnic charge. The weapon is guided to its target by a navigation module that uses signals from both an inertial navigation system and a jam-resistant Kometa-M GPS/GLONASS antenna. Control signals are sent to two servomotors that actuate the tail surfaces. The system is powered by two batteries.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />
The current manufacturer of the module is not officially named. Perhaps there are several companies producing them, as well as several variants of the module itself.<ref name=":0" />
A unit costs 2 million Rubles (24,460 USD as of 2025), according to the Telegram blogger Fighterbomber,<ref name=Репортёр/> which is relatively inexpensive for a guided weapon.<ref name=Репортёр>{{cite news |title=It became known about the almost daily use of Russian planning bombs UMPK |date=22 February 2023 |url=https://en.topcor.ru/32399-stalo-izvestno-o-prakticheski-ezhednevnom-primenenii-rossijskih-planirujuschih-bomb-umpk.html |work=en.topcor.ru Репортёр [Reporter] |access-date=28 April 2024}}</ref><ref name=Pop_Mech/> During its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is unlikely to run out of bombs to which it can be fitted, as it has a very large inventory of unguided aerial bombs.<ref name=Pop_Mech>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-24 |title=Just How Dumb Are Russia's Winged Smart Bombs? |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a43571893/how-dumb-are-russias-winged-smart-bombs/ |access-date=2024-04-09 |website=Popular Mechanics}}</ref> The heavy use of civilian-grade electronics allows kits to be mass produced cheaply but also makes them unreliable compared to Western equivalents resulting in bombs falling within Russia, although safeguard systems mean detonations are rare.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ilyushina |first1=Mary |last2=Khurshudyan |first2=Isabelle |title=Russia's devastating glide bombs keep falling on its own territory |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/07/01/russia-glide-bomb-belgorod-fab/ |access-date=2 July 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=1 July 2024}}</ref>
Ukrainian media often refers to Russian UMPK-equipped bombs as "KABs", which is not accurate since KAB is a guided bomb, while the UMPK is a kit that gets attached to unguided bombs such as FAB.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-27 |title=Что такое КАБ: чипы из США и Китая есть в российских бомбах ФАБ – исследование |trans-title=What is KAB: US and Chinese chips are in Russian FAB bombs – study |url=https://forbes.ua/ru/war-in-ukraine/anatomiya-kabiv-u-moduli-ruynivnikh-rosiyskikh-aviabomb-71-elementiv-zi-ssha-ta-kitayu-yak-voni-vlashtovani-27052024-21348 |access-date=2025-06-26 |website=forbes.ua |language=ru}}</ref> thumb|FAB-3000 with a UMPK kit
There are several variants of the kit:
* '''FAB-250''' – used at least as early as May 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Доработка авиабомб ФАБ-250 позволила сделать из них высокоточные боеприпасы |trans-title=Refinement of FAB-250 bombs made it possible to turn them into precision munitions |url=https://tass.ru/armiya-i-opk/17663845 |date=2023-05-03 |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=TASS |language=ru}}</ref> * '''FAB-500''' – the first bomb equipped with the UMPK, and the most widely used. * '''FAB-1500''' – used at least as early as September 2023.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-21 |script-title=ru:Удар ФАБ-1500 по скоплению ВСУ под Антоновским мостом попал на видео |title=FAB-1500 strike on AFU formation under Antonivskyi bridge caught on video |url=https://rg.ru/2023/10/21/udar-fab-1500-po-skopleniiu-vsu-pod-antonovskim-mostom-popal-na-video.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |publisher=Rossiyskaya Gazeta |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |script-title=ru:Newsweek: "Умная" авиабомба ФАБ-1500 усилит давление на ПВО Украины |title=Newsweek: "Smart" FAB-1500 bomb will increase pressure on Ukraine's air defense |url=https://rg.ru/2023/11/01/newsweek-umnaia-aviabomba-fab-1500-usilit-davlenie-na-pvo-ukrainy.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |publisher=Rossiyskaya Gazeta |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |author-link=David Axe |title=Russia's Got A Giant New Glide-Bomb |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/09/07/russias-got-a-giant-new-glide-bomb/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |date=2023-09-07 |website=Forbes}}</ref> The FAB-1500М54 guided bomb was displayed publicly when Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu visited the Tactical Missiles Corporation military-industrial complex in the Moscow region in January 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-12 |title=Минобороны России впервые показало полуторатонную авиабомбу с УМПК |trans-title=The Russian Ministry of Defense for the first time showed a 1½-ton bomb with the UMPK |url=https://ria.ru/20240112/aviabomba-1920945878.html |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=RIA Novosti |language=ru}}</ref> * '''FAB-3000''' – On 20 June 2024, Russian milblogger FighterBomber published the alleged first usage of a FAB-3000 with UMPK kit in the village of Liptsy, Kharkiv region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Сегодня в н.п. Липцы Харьковской области состоялся бенефис ФАБ-3000 М-54 с УМПК. |url=https://t.me/fighter_bomber/17113 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=FighterBomber Telegram}}</ref> ''The Kyiv Independent'' also reported on this claim, although they could not verify its veracity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-20 |title=Russian forces claim to have deployed FAB-3000 glide bomb for first time |url=https://kyivindependent.com/russian-forces-claim-to-have-deployed-fab-3000-glide-bomb-for-first-time/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}}</ref> More purported uses of the bomb in the same region took place in the next days with videos appeared online.<ref>{{cite web | title=105.000 κιλά βομβών FAB-3000 χτύπησαν ουκρανικούς στόχους στο Χάρκοβο! – Η μυρωδιά των καμμένων έφτασε μέχρι το Κίεβο | website=Pronews.gr | date=2024-06-24 | url=https://www.pronews.gr/amyna-asfaleia/enoples-sygkroyseis/105-000-kila-vomvon-fab-3000-xtypisan-oukranikous-stoxous-sto-xarkovo-i-myrodia-ton-kammenon-eftase-mexri-to-kievo/ | language=el | ref={{sfnref | Pronews.gr | 2024}} | access-date=2024-06-24}}</ref> The Russian Ministry of Defense officially announced the use of the bomb on 14 July 2024 by publishing a video which showed a Su-34 tactical bomber launching it.<ref>{{cite web | title=Ukraine conflict: Russia flaunts glide-adapted version of FAB-3000 high-yield bomb | website=Jane's.com | date=2024-07-17 | url=https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/ukraine-conflict-russia-flaunts-glide-adapted-version-of-fab-3000-high-yield-bomb | ref={{sfnref | Default | 2024}} | access-date=2024-07-21}}</ref> * '''ODAB-500''' – footage in a video published by the Russian Defense Ministry on April 4, 2024, shows a Su-34 frontline bomber launching four ODAB-500 thermobaric bombs equipped with the UMPK guidance kit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Russian Su-34 Bomber Targets Ukrainian Positions with New Guided ODAB-500 Thermobaric Bombs |url=https://armyrecognition.com/ukraine_-_russia_conflict_war_2022/russian_su-34_bomber_targets_ukrainian_positions_with_new_guided_odab-500_thermobaric_bombs.html |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=armyrecognition.com}}</ref> * '''ODAB-1500''' – used at least as early as February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Was the ODAB-1500 Aviation Bomb Used by the Enemy for the First Time: What Is Its Main Danger? |url=https://en.defence-ua.com/weapon_and_tech/was_the_odab_1500_aviation_bomb_used_by_the_enemy_for_the_first_time_what_is_its_main_danger-10010.html |date=2024-03-30 |access-date=2024-04-26 |website=en.defence-ua.com}}</ref> * '''RBK-500''' – the cluster variant used at least as early as November 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newdick |first=Thomas |date=2023-11-20 |title=Russian Glide Bomb Kits Now Adapted For Cluster Munitions: Reports |url=https://www.twz.com/russian-glide-bomb-kits-now-adapted-for-cluster-munitions-reports |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=The War Zone |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notable uses == * ''Forbes'' magazine stated in August 2023 that the large-scale use of Russian guided bombs greatly hindered the Ukrainian counteroffensive on the Zaporizhzhia front.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Axe |first=David |author-link=David Axe |title=What Are Ukrainian Troops Most Afraid Of? Russia's Cheap, Powerful Glide-Bombs. |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/08/27/what-are-ukrainian-troops-most-afraid-of-russias-cheap-powerful-glide-bombs/ |date=2023-08-27 |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=Forbes}}</ref> * FAB-1500 was claimed to have been used to strike the Antonovskiy Bridge in Kherson.<ref name=":1" />
== See also == * Soviet and Russian aerial bombs * JDAM Extended Range - American glide bomb kit * LS-6 - Chinese glide bomb kit
== References == <references />
{{Russian and Soviet Aircraft Ordnance}}
Category:Aircraft weapons Category:Targeting (warfare) Category:Post–Cold War weapons of Russia Category:Guided bombs of Russia