New Weapons Against Russian Guided Bombs: What the Armed Forces are Testing.

According to ТСН: The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are testing new weapons intended to reduce the effectiveness of Russian guided aerial bombs (GABs). Currently, details about the new sample are not disclosed — it is unknown whether it is a completely new system or modernized existing air defense means.

According to military sources, from September to November, the anti-aircraft missile troops of the Air Force destroyed about 100 Russian GABs. However, this threat remains one of the most complex for Ukrainian defense.

Why Fighting GABs is So Problematic

One of the proposed approaches involves destroying not the bombs themselves, but the carrier aircraft and production facilities in Russia. For this, Ukraine needs to:

• have air superiority to destroy the enemy's aviation;

• a significant number of long-range missiles — cruise or ballistic — for strikes on Russian territory.

Without a sufficient arsenal of such means, Ukraine faces significant difficulties in combating GABs, making this process costly and complex.

What the New Weapon Might Be

Since the information about the tests was provided by the anti-aircraft missile troops, it is likely that we are talking about a new missile system or a modified version of existing systems.

This approach seems logical: having analyzed all available defense means, it was obviously decided to develop a domestic solution — independently or in collaboration with partners.

The Key Problem — Cost

One of the biggest issues is economic efficiency. In October, Russia set an “anti-record,” dropping over 5,300 guided bombs. This indicates that Ukraine needs thousands of missiles, which are always more expensive than the GABs themselves.

Thus, even the emergence of a new countermeasure does not promise a quick resolution to the issue. A comprehensive approach is needed: a combination of air defense, electronic warfare, strike capabilities, and the production of more affordable missiles.

It should be noted that Russia is continually working on increasing its armament. The Main Intelligence Directorate warned that Russians are actively producing GABs.

The context of the situation indicates that issues with countering GABs remain relevant for Ukrainian forces. Testing new weapons could be an important step in enhancing defense effectiveness; however, to achieve sustainable results, Ukraine needs to develop comprehensive strategies in cooperation with international partners. These efforts should include modernizing existing means and implementing new technologies to ensure greater security for the country.