Ukrainian military uses US 'smart' bombs for first time near Bakhmut
(Baonghean.vn) - Strana.ua news site reported on March 10 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces used the US JDAM "smart" bomb for the first time near the city of Bakhmut since Russia launched its military campaign.
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JDAM controller and instructions. Photo: AP |
Earlier, the Commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, General James Hecker, said that the US had transferred long-range JDAM-ER bombs to Ukraine. According to General Hecker, Ukraine's current supply of these bombs is relatively small, but the country will have enough to "strike a few blows".
The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a GPS-based, free-fall bomb that converts a glider into an all-weather, guided bomb. The glider is mounted in the middle of the bomb, and a special device with an inertial navigation system, which supports computer-aided satellite navigation with a navigation wing, is mounted on the tail, allowing the bomb to maneuver flexibly. The inertial navigation system ensures that high-precision target attacks are maintained even when the GPS signal is weak or interrupted.
A bomb equipped with a basic JDAM kit, depending on the release altitude, can accurately hit a target at a distance of up to 24 km. In the upgraded version JDAM-ER, delivered to Ukraine, the bomb's range can reach 72 km. The JDAM-ER kit is compatible with many Mk 80 series bombs and other bombs designed in the same style.