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Russia Unveils Extended-Range UMPB-5 Glide Bomb for Use Against Ukraine
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Russia has introduced a new air-launched glide bomb, designated UMPB-5, which features aerodynamic and structural upgrades aimed at extending its strike range.
The development appears to be part of an ongoing effort to increase stand-off capabilities for tactical aircraft operating beyond the reach of Ukrainian air defenses.
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According to Defence Blog on February 8, the UMPB-5 represents a further evolution of the UMPK-series guided bomb kits already used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
The new munition retains the modular design of earlier variants but features a redesigned glider body and modified wing configuration intended to boost flight performance.
Ukrainian defense sources cited in the reports state that the UMPB-5 continues to use the same satellite and inertial navigation systems as its predecessors—specifically the SMART and Kometa-M12 guidance modules.
These systems allow the munition to be deployed from aircraft outside many Ukrainian air defense engagement zones, while maintaining targeting accuracy against stationary objectives.
The most notable upgrade lies in its extended range. Even in its unpowered configuration, the aerodynamic enhancements reportedly add 40–50 kilometers of reach, bringing the total glide range up to approximately 160 kilometers when dropped from optimal altitude and speed.
A separate variant, designated UMPB-5R, is said to include a compact jet engine sourced from Chinese manufacturer Swiwin. If confirmed, this would allow the powered version to achieve a strike range of up to 200 kilometers, sustaining flight beyond passive gliding.
The UMPB-5 is intended for use with tactical combat aircraft such as the Su-34, which routinely operate over occupied territories or from within Russian airspace. The increased range enables these platforms to remain farther from the frontlines while conducting precision strikes deeper into Ukrainian territory.
The modular design of the bomb kit simplifies logistics and retrofitting, effectively converting older unguided munitions into long-range guided weapons. This approach reflects a broader trend in Russia’s aerial warfare strategy, which increasingly relies on glide bombs to offset the risks posed by advanced Ukrainian and Western-supplied air defenses.
Earlier, Russian forces used the newly developed UMPB-5 glide bomb to strike Kharkiv from a distance of approximately 100 kilometers, injuring at least 33 civilians, including four children. According to the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, the bombs, dropped by Su-34 aircraft from Russia’s Belgorod region, hit a residential building and a civilian industrial site.
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