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Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Launches 8 US GBU-39 Precision-Guided Bombs against Russian Positions.
On November 4, 2024, a video was released on the Telegram channel Sonyashnyk showing a MiG-29 from the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade dropping eight precision-guided GBU-39 bombs. This demonstration illustrates the successful integration of Western munitions on MiG-29 fighter jets, providing Ukraine with an enhanced long-range precision strike capability. The GBU-39, designed for GPS-guided strikes, allows targets to be hit from over 74 kilometers away, thereby expanding Ukraine’s options for distant strikes.
Ukrainian MiG-29 Fighter Jet Launches 8 US GBU-39 Precision-Guided Bombs (Picture source: Ukraine Social Media)
The GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) is a 250-pound precision-guided munition designed for long-range strikes in all weather conditions. Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for target navigation, the bomb can reach over 40 nautical miles (approximately 74 km) when released from altitude. Its compact size allows aircraft to carry multiple SDBs in a single mission, maximizing strike capacity while minimizing collateral damage. Thanks to the BRU-61 rack, which holds up to four bombs, it significantly enhances the aircraft’s payload and mission efficiency.
This increased precision and range directly strengthen the synergy between Ukraine’s air and ground forces. MiG-29s armed with GBU-39Bs play a critical role in close support of armored units on the ground, neutralizing strategic enemy positions just beyond the front lines. By eliminating key threats quickly and precisely, MiG-29s allow armored units to advance more safely. Additionally, this ability to minimize collateral damage helps preserve civilian infrastructure and reduce civilian casualties, which is essential for maintaining international support for Ukraine. Integrating the GBU-39B embodies Ukraine’s commitment to modernizing its military capabilities, enhancing pilot safety, and optimizing operational effectiveness against often better-equipped forces, consolidating a tactical advantage over Russian forces.
Developed by Boeing to meet the Air Combat Command’s requirements, the GBU-39B was initially deployed on the F-15 Strike Eagle and is expected to be compatible with platforms such as the F-16, B-1 Lancer, F-22, and F-35. First produced in 2005 and delivered in 2006, the GBU-39B has become a key air weapon, capable of penetrating fortified targets and evading detection by adversarial air defenses thanks to its GPS/INS guidance system.
The video shows the release of 8 GBU-39 bombs, likely using two quadruple BRU-61 racks mounted under each wing of the MiG-29. These racks allow multiple bombs to be carried simultaneously thanks to their modular configuration, ensuring secure attachment and precise release of the munitions. Each quadruple rack can hold four bombs, which are kept in place by robust locking mechanisms until the moment of release. During the strike operation, the racks release the bombs sequentially or simultaneously according to tactical requirements, ensuring an effective and coordinated distribution of munitions on the target.
Ukrainian MiG-29s, a pillar of the Ukrainian Air Force, have undergone numerous upgrades to remain effective in contemporary combat scenarios, especially for supporting ground forces. Inherited from the Soviet Union, approximately 70 MiG-29s were acquired, although only 26 were operational in 2021 due to maintenance challenges and parts shortages. These aircraft, including variants such as the MiG-29S1M, MiG-29P1M, MiG-29UBM1, and MiG-29PU1M, are equipped with NATO-standard components and GPS systems, as well as an American-inspired "Compass Ghost Gray" camouflage to reduce visual detection. Powered by two Klimov RD-33 turbofan engines, providing 8,500 lbf of thrust each, the MiG-29s reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.25 and a service ceiling of 18,000 meters.
In terms of avionics, they are equipped with upgraded radars and GPS/INS guidance systems, facilitating the integration of advanced precision munitions such as GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) and AGM-88 HARM missiles. Armed with Soviet air-to-air missiles like the R-27 Alamo and R-73 Archer, as well as Western AIM-9X missiles, MiG-29s play a crucial role in close support of Ukrainian armored forces by conducting precise strikes against enemy armored units, suppressing adversarial air defenses, and performing reconnaissance missions. With their ability to conduct long-range strikes and coordinate in real-time with ground units, MiG-29s enhance the operational effectiveness of armored forces, thereby improving Ukraine's tactical superiority on the battlefield. The successful integration of Western munitions and technological upgrades reflects Ukraine’s commitment to modernizing its military capabilities, further strengthening the synergy between air and armored forces to meet current security challenges.
In addition to the standard models, Ukraine possesses upgraded versions, including the MiG-29S1M, MiG-29P1M, MiG-29UBM1, and MiG-29PU1M, equipped with NATO-standard components and GPS systems. With U.S. support, Kyiv has successfully integrated several Western weapons, including the recently showcased GBU-39 and potentially UK-supplied Paveway IV bombs. Efforts to equip Ukrainian MiG-29s with Western air-to-air missiles have been reported, but no successful integration has taken place. As a result, Ukrainian aircraft continue to rely on Soviet-made missiles for air combat, although AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 missiles are available for NASAMS defense systems and F-16s.
The United States recently ordered additional GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs, both for its own Air Force and foreign allies, including Ukraine. On September 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a multi-year contract with Boeing, valued at up to $6.9 billion, covering the production and delivery of an unspecified quantity of GBU-39/B bombs through December 31, 2035. The contract includes supplying allied nations such as Japan, Bulgaria, and Ukraine under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
In May, reports confirmed that Ukraine’s Air Force had adapted Soviet-era combat aircraft to deploy GBU-39 bombs, signaling a broader effort to enhance strike capabilities amid the ongoing conflict.
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (Picture source: Chuck Pfarrer)