Ukrainian forces have intercepted a Russian KAB guided bomb in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to Yurii Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) command, who spoke to Ukraine’s Espreso News.
Ihnat noted that this was not the first successful interception but did not disclose details about the current or past incidents.
Ihnat explained that Russian KAB guided aerial bombs are modified iron bombs launched from tactical aircraft at distances beyond the reach of Ukrainian air defenses. In 2024 alone, Russia has deployed nearly 40,000 KAB bombs against Ukraine.
📹 Rare to see famous Russian Glide Bombs used in ongoing #UkraineWar
Glide bombs are built by adding fold-out wings and satellite navigation to old Soviet bombs. They are cheap but destructive. Glide bombs are released far from, almost impossible to intercept #IADN pic.twitter.com/eXTyS5TBRY
— News IADN (@NewsIADN) May 31, 2024
A Forbes report highlights the difficulty of intercepting glide bombs due to their small size and lack of a heat signature. While some weigh up to three tons, most are under a ton with a wingspan of less than seven feet, making them difficult to detect on radar.
According to the report, short-range air defense missiles like the Stinger use infrared guidance to lock onto heat sources, but since glide bombs are unpowered and produce no jet exhaust, they remain invisible to such systems.
Rare footage filmed by Ukrainain troops of a Russian “Glide Bomb” making its way to its target.
This looks like a FAB250 (250kg) , the smallest of these air launched munitions, Russia now has 3000kg versions of this weapon deployed.
It can not be shot down. pic.twitter.com/vJTPOZlILs
— Chay Bowes (@BowesChay) February 10, 2025
Without revealing specific details, Ihnat said countering Moscow’s use of KABs requires a comprehensive approach: “Countering this threat requires both ground-based air defense systems and aviation components to push the carriers of these bombs as far back as possible.”
Ukrainian milblogger Sonyashnyk (Sunflower), who specializes in air defense and aviation issues, wrote on Telegram that the earlier incidents Ihnat referred to involved the “skilled hands of the Cossacks shooting KABs with the ZU-23-2” – a twin-barreled towed 23 mm anti-aircraft cannon. He noted that such successes had been “few and far between,” requiring luck and being both difficult and dangerous.
38th Air Defence Regiment:
– Crotale NG
– Osa-AKM with R-73
– Zu-23-2 with thermal sight. pic.twitter.com/gjllk6kzEl— 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝕯𝔢𝔞𝔡 𝕯𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔱△ 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇺🇲🇬🇷 (@TheDeadDistrict) February 5, 2025
NATO has recognized the urgent need to counter Russia’s glide bombs. Recently, it launched its first 2025 Innovation Challenge aimed at developing technologies to detect, intercept, or neutralize glide bombs.
The competition calls for solutions that can integrate seamlessly with NATO’s existing defense systems and requires minimal training for end-users. The deadline for submissions is on March 13.
