Russia’s glide bomb campaign, once a major threat along the front line, is rapidly losing effectiveness as Ukraine’s electronic warfare (EW) units jam satellite guidance systems.
This was reported by Forbes on February 26.
The disruption has forced Russian forces to fire significantly more munitions to hit the same targets, eroding what was once seen as a key battlefield advantage.
Glide Bombs No Longer the "Miracle Weapon"
Just a year ago, Russian warplanes were launching over 100 glide bombs daily, striking Ukrainian defenses from a distance of 25 miles or more.
These satellite-guided KAB and UMPK bombs—once hailed by Russian analysts as a “miracle weapon”—helped Moscow’s troops advance in Avdiivka and toward Pokrovsk.
However, as Russian forces struggle outside Pokrovsk, even pro-Kremlin military bloggers are admitting that the bombs are no longer effective.
The Fighterbomber Telegram channel has acknowledged that Ukraine’s jamming operations have spread across the front, making GLONASS-guided bombs unreliable.
GLONASS is Russia’s version of GPS, but without a steady satellite connection, the bombs are veering off course and detonating harmlessly in open fields.
As Ukrainian electronic warfare units continue to jam Russian satellite signals, high-value targets are now completely shielded, according to Fighterbomber.
This means Russian forces sometimes need to drop as many as 16 bombs to successfully hit a single target—a massive waste of munitions.
Adding to Moscow’s frustration, the Sukhoi fighter jets launching these bombs are now at greater risk. With each attack run requiring more bombs, Russian aircraft are being exposed to Ukrainian defenses for longer periods, making these missions increasingly dangerous and costly.
Ukraine’s Tech Edge Neutralizes Russian Air Power
Forbes notes that Ukraine’s electronic warfare capabilities have been more effective than traditional air defense systems in countering Russia’s aerial threats. While Ukraine’s S-300, Patriot, and SAMP/T missile systems can intercept Russian aircraft, there are too few to protect the entire front line.
By relying on jamming instead of interception, Ukraine has crippled Russia’s glide bomb effectiveness without firing a single missile.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s own Western-supplied glide bombs, such as U.S.-made JDAMs and French Hammer bombs, are resistant to jamming thanks to backup inertial navigation systems.
Russian inertial guidance systems, by contrast, are notoriously inaccurate, making them nearly useless when GLONASS signals are disrupted.
Ukraine, with backing from NATO, is expanding its electronic warfare capabilities even further. NATO recently launched the 15th edition of its “Innovation Challenge”, aimed at developing new ways to detect, intercept, or neutralize Russian guided glide bombs.
