GBU-62 JDAM-ER destroys UAV control station in Vovchansk
A video from the Sunflower channel shows Ukraine using a GBU-62 JDAM-ER missile from a MiG-29 to strike a Russian UAV control station in Vovchansk, carrying out the attack from a safe distance.
A video released by the Telegram channel "Sunflower," linked to the Ukrainian Air Force, shows an airstrike using GBU-62 JDAM-ER guided bombs that destroyed a drone control station located in a building near railway tracks in Vovchansk. The bomb was reportedly dropped from a MiG-29 fighter jet while a reconnaissance drone was adjusting its target in the skies over Vovchansk.
Regarding the ground situation, Ukrainian units remained present in the city of Vovchansk until December 2-3, maintaining a defensive line in the southern suburbs. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces previously stated that information from the Russian side about "occupying" Vovchansk was incorrect; fighting continued in the area.
Technical analysis
According to the video and related description, the GBU-62 is a 500-pound guided munition based on the standard Mk 82 air-launched bomb, supplemented with a JDAM system using GPS/INS guidance and an ER (Extended Range) glide module. Upon separation from the aircraft, the glide wings deploy, allowing the bomb to glide towards its target from a distance of tens of kilometers, avoiding a steep descent.
This principle allows for attacks from outside the range of close-range air defense fire or under conditions where the target is well protected. In the case of Vovchansk, the target was a UAV control station, belonging to the group of high-value targets in terms of command and control in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations.
| Category | Information by source |
|---|---|
| Type of ammunition | The GBU-62 is based on the Mk-82. |
| Mass | 500 pounds |
| Guide | JDAM with GPS/INS |
| Increase range | ER glide module (with glide wings) |
| approach | Dash towards the target, attack from a distance. |
| Platform | Integrated onto the MiG-29 |
| Attack range | Tens of kilometers (according to the source description) |
Deployment tactics
The video shows the reconnaissance UAV operating unhindered over Vovchansk, acting as a target correction device for the GBU-62. This combined reconnaissance-attack method optimizes the accuracy of the JDAM-ER while allowing the bomber to maintain a safe distance when approaching the target area.
The Russian UAV control station is located in a building near the railway tracks. The use of JDAM-ER allows access to targets that are shielded or located in areas with nearby air defenses, reducing the need for low-altitude flight or deep penetration by the carrier aircraft.
The combat situation in Vovchansk
DeepState co-founder Ruslan Mykula stated in a comment sent to Gvara Media that the current assessment in Vovchansk is consistent with previous assessments by the 16th Army Corps and the General Staff. According to him, the Russian forces have not achieved success in Vovchansk, nor in the western suburban forests; they are attempting to approach the city from the west and southwest.
On December 2nd, reports indicated that soldiers of the 57th Kostya Gordienko Motorized Infantry Brigade had eliminated a group of Russian soldiers attempting to plant a flag in Vovchansk. The unit noted this was the 572nd day of the city's defense, with continuous small-scale infantry assaults. The Russian side heavily utilized artillery, air power, and UAVs, including those controlled via fiber optic cables.
Overall, the data from the video and the aforementioned sources indicate that Ukraine continues to maintain its long-range precision strike capability at the tactical level, while holding its defensive positions around Vovchansk amidst intense fighting.
