Wings for Old Bombs: Russia's Revolutionary New Weapon

Monday - January 15 2024, 05:38 UTC - 10 months ago

The PKB-500U Drel, a new gliding bomb that retrofits older models, has passed all trials and is set for mass production in 2024. Its high effectiveness and resistance to jamming and radar detection make it a major threat to ground targets. However, its banned cluster munitions and civilian applications spark global controversy.

Russia's new PKB-500U Drel, also known as the 'drill' in Russian, is set to revolutionize aerial warfare. This gliding bomb effectively retrofits 'dumb' gravity bombs into highly effective guided munitions that can wreak havoc on ground targets from a safe distance. After a long development phase and limited deployment in Ukraine, the Drel has finally passed all of its trials and is set to enter mass production in 2024 .

The bomb's capability to destroy armored vehicles, radar stations, and anti-aircraft missile systems has made it a major threat to enemy forces. Its resistance to jamming and radar detection, as well as its cost-effective design, make it a valuable asset in modern warfare. However, this new technology has also faced global condemnation, as cluster munitions are banned by over 100 countries for their indiscriminate nature and long-term danger caused by unexploded bomblets .