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Ukraine Unveils First Homegrown Glide Bomb Ready for Combat

Ukraine has unveiled its first domestically developed glide bomb, which completed trials after 17 months and carries a 250-kilogram warhead. The weapon is designed to strike targets dozens of kilometers behind enemy lines and is now entering pilot training.

TH
The War Zone
2 sources·May 18, 4:49 PM(10 days ago)·1m read
Ukraine Unveils First Homegrown Glide Bomb Ready for CombatThe War Zone
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Ukraine has released imagery of its first homegrown glide bomb, which officials say has completed all required trials and is ready for combat deployment. The weapon carries a 250-kilogram warhead and is designed to hit targets dozens of kilometers behind enemy lines. Development took 17 months under the Brave1 defense technology program.

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The glide bomb features a wing kit and guidance system whose exact specifications remain undisclosed. Ukrainian authorities state the weapon was designed from scratch and was not copied from Western or Soviet systems. An accompanying video shows the munition released from a Ukrainian Air Force Su-24 attack jet, with wings deploying immediately after release.

The design includes large cruciform tailfins and appears to use a topple-over mechanism similar to Russian glide bombs. >"The first Ukrainian glide bomb from @BRAVE1ua is ready for combat deployment. Development took 17 months. The new domestic weapon is intended to supplement these systems amid concerns over supply constraints and usage restrictions on Western munitions.

Russian forces have made extensive use of glide bombs fitted with precision guidance kits in recent years. The Ukrainian weapon is positioned to match this capability with a fully domestic production source. Combat deployment is described as imminent.

” It employs a high-precision guidance system and can potentially be carried by F-16 and Mirage 2000 aircraft after additional certification.

Key Facts

17 months
development time for the new glide bomb
250 kg
warhead weight of the Ukrainian glide bomb
Dozens of kilometers
stated range behind enemy lines
Su-24
current launch platform shown in release video

Story Timeline

5 events
  1. August 2024

    Video showed an earlier unidentified air-launched munition released from a Ukrainian Su-24.

    2 sourcesThe War Zone · TheWarZoneWire
  2. December 2024

    Official development of the new glide bomb began under the Brave1 program.

    2 sourcesThe War Zone · TheWarZoneWire
  3. May 18, 2026

    Brave1 announced the glide bomb completed trials and is ready for combat.

    2 sourcesThe War Zone · TheWarZoneWire
  4. May 18, 2026

    Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated development took 17 months with a 250 kg warhead.

    2 sourcesThe War Zone · TheWarZoneWire
  5. May 19, 2026

    Additional details emerged naming the weapon Vyrivniuvach and noting potential F-16 compatibility.

    2 sourcesThe War Zone · TheWarZoneWire

Potential Impact

  1. 01

    Ukraine gains a domestic source of air-launched precision munitions independent of foreign supply chains.

  2. 02

    Pilots will begin operational training ahead of imminent combat use.

  3. 03

    The weapon may reduce reliance on restricted Western-supplied glide bombs.

  4. 04

    Additional certification could allow carriage on F-16 and Mirage 2000 fighters.

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced2
Confidence score59%
Synthesized bySubstrate AI
Word count236 words
PublishedMay 18, 2026, 4:49 PM

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