A video shared on X by OSINTtechnical shows a Ukrainian MiG-29 executing a barrel roll while releasing four U.S.-supplied GBU-39 bombs at a Russian position.
Footage of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum launching a quartet of US-supplied GBU-39 SDB glide bombs at a Russian position while performing a barrel roll. pic.twitter.com/pmN9pFIalN
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 16, 2025
The footage was released on Sunday, but it is unclear when and where it was recorded.
The MiG-29 is a twin-engine fighter jet developed in the 1970s to meet the Soviet Union’s need for a modern, small tactical fighter to succeed the MiG-21. Originally designed to counter a new generation of American fighters, including the F-15 and F-16, the MiG-29 has since been upgraded for various combat roles.
It can carry a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, including the R-73, R-77, and U.S.-supplied JDAM and GBU-39 bombs—a 250-pound, GPS-guided glide bomb designed for long-range strikes.
The Bulgarian Military noted in its report that integrating GBU-39 bombs into Ukraine’s MiG-29s represents a key milestone in Kyiv’s military cooperation with its Western allies, particularly the United States.
Open-source intelligence reports and military analysts indicate that integrating NATO-standard munitions into the MiG-29 required significant avionics modifications, including upgrades to its radar, GPS, and inertial navigation systems.
According to reports, U.S. contractors and Ukrainian engineers from the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade modified the MiG-29’s systems to accommodate GBU-39 bombs. These upgrades reportedly enabled Ukrainian pilots to strike Russian targets from greater distances while reducing their exposure to air defenses such as the S-400 and Pantsir systems.
This was not the first time the MiG-24 was documented in such an operation. In November 2024, the Telegram channel Sonyashnyk reported a similar incident, documenting a MiG-29 dropping eight GBU-39 bombs.
#Ukrainian MiG-29 jet drops 8 x GBU-39 precision-guided glide bombs at #Russian position #UkraineRussiaWar️️ pic.twitter.com/v0UBhuJK6W
— The_Real_Evidence_24 (@AbdiAziizA85945) November 5, 2024
