Ukrainian Su-27s are using JDAM-ER standoff bombs
24 August, 2023 A bomb with a JDAM-ER kit is suspended from the hardpoint of a Ukrainian Su-27 fighter. Photo credits: Ukrainian Air Force The Ukrainian military published a photo of a Su-27 fighter jet with JDAM-ER precision-guided munitions.
The press service of the Ukrainian Air Force published the photo of the aircraft. JDAM is a guidance kit that converts unguided bombs, or "dumb bombs", into all-weather precision-guided munitions. It consists of a tail section with aerodynamic control surfaces and an inertial control system paired with a GPS receiver.
The munition in the photo can be visually identified as a Mark 82 500-pound bomb. Its weight in the metric system is 230 kilograms, of which 89 kg is explosives. Equipped with the JDAM-ER kit, the Mark 82 bomb is capable of striking the target at a distance of up to 72 kilometers with a maximum deviation from the target of up to 11 meters.
Bomb with JDAM-ER kit with deployed wings in flight.
Photo from open sources
It should be noted that despite Su-27 being capable of carrying Western bombs on the hardpoints, this fighter jet is still not capable of in-flight programming of the point of impact. Apparently, the introduction of the flight program and target occurs at the airfield just before the ammunition is hung on the aircraft. To date, only 500-pound Western-style bombs are known to have been used by the Ukrainian air force, although JDAM kits for 2,000-pound (910 kg) bombs exist.
The latter could be carried by Su-24M frontline bombers. Previously, a certain number of MiG-29 fighter jets were adapted to use precision-guided munitions. The Air Force published the first photo of the upgraded aircraft on July 8.
A photo of one of the planes was also posted online.
Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet adapted for the use of Western weapons. Photo from open sources
JDAM
The Defense Forces are using this powerful ammunition to launch precision attacks on important targets on the front line and in the enemy's rear. A flight range of 72 kilometers allows pilots to launch it without entering the area of enemy air defense.
Thus, at the end of June, the Ukrainian military used these aerial bombs to destroy the command post of the Russians in the Donetsk region, which belonged to the 288th Separate Engineer Battalion. They were also used during an offensive operation in the South to dislodge the invaders from the village of Urozhaine. At that time, the bombs destroyed a several-story building in which the military of the Russian 37th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade held the defense.
Subsequently, on August 16, the Ukrainian military completely liberated this settlement.