- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Nowhere to Hide: A Rundown of the Russian Bombs Being Dropped on ISIL

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankRussian military air group at Khmeimim airbase in Syria
Russian military air group at Khmeimim airbase in Syria - Sputnik International
Subscribe
During the ongoing air operation in Syria, Russia is using a whole array of bombs and missiles equipped with sophisticated guidance systems, according to media reports.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond - Sputnik International
British Criticism of Russian Airstrikes Reveals Double Standards Over Syria
A wide range of missiles and bombs equipped with advanced guidance systems are currently being used by Russia in its air campaign against Islamic State militants in Syria.

During precision airstrikes, Russian weaponry is launched from high altitudes to evade mobile air-defense systems.

The precision bombs typically use the GLONASS navigation system to destroy targets, the Russian developed alternative to GPS, whereas missiles are guided by a weapons system operator.

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankKAB-500S
KAB-500S - Sputnik International
KAB-500S

The precision weapons include is the KAB guided bomb, which includes two modifications such as KAB-250 and KAB-500.The KAB-250 bomb was designed in the 2000s for the Russian fifth generation PAK-FA fighter jet. Its distinctive egg-shaped form can be explained by the fact that this bomb is mounted in inside the plane's bays.

© Wikipedia / AllocerKAB-500OD
KAB-500OD - Sputnik International
KAB-500OD

The bomb is also used by advanced Russian warplanes, including the Su-34 bombers, which are currently taking part in the air operation in Syria. The aircraft drop these bombs on Islamic State targets from an altitude of 5,000 meters.

© Wikipedia / KGyST Kh-29L
Kh-29L - Sputnik International
Kh-29L

As far as laser-guided missiles in use in Syria are concerned, they differ in ammunition power and include laser-guided versions of the Kh-25L and Kh-29L.

© Sputnik / Dmitriy Vinogradov / Go to the mediabankKh-25ML
Kh-25ML - Sputnik International
Kh-25ML

The Russian ground-support fighter jets Su-24 and Su-25 also use non-guided air bombs in Syria, where a sophisticated targeting system helps pilots to plant bombs with total accuracy.

Additionally, special bunker-busting BETAB-500 air bombs are used in Syria to eliminate Islamic State command centers, which are multilevel underground bunkers made of reinforced concrete.

The concrete-piercing BETAB-500 bombs are equipped with a jet booster, which allows the bombs to completely destroy any underground installation.

 

Also being dropped on Islamic State militants in Syria are the fragmentation and demolition air bombs OFAB-250, which are specifically used to destroy unprotected targets, including enemy arms depots and training camps.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала