Ukrainian air force's MiG‑29s key in strategic bombings
The Ukrainian Air Force continues its attacks on Russian targets, with MiGs remaining the main strike aircraft. Here, we present the behind-the-scenes look at one of the bombings.
The Ukrainian Air Force is gaining strength, thanks to the delivery of F-16 aircraft. However, strike missions on ground targets, judging by published recordings, are still primarily conducted by the remaining fleet of MiG-29 aircraft, which have been rejuvenated with units transferred by Poland and Slovakia.
MiG-29 aircraft typically carry American glide bombs, such as the GBU-39 SDB or the French AASM Hammer. The tactic involves flying at a low altitude before executing a TOSS maneuver to drop the bombs. This maneuver entails the aircraft suddenly rising just before bomb release, then diving again after their release. The initial stage is clearly visible in the recording below, where a Ukrainian MiG-29 rises sharply using its afterburner.
TOSS tactic — a strategy that significantly increases the range of aerial bombs
This bombing method was developed during the Cold War, providing aircraft with the ability to fly at a low altitude and high speed and to drop bombs without being directly above the target.
Such tactics offer a fairly good defense against medium-range ground-based anti-aircraft systems due to the so-called radar horizon, which limits the range of ground radars to about 40 kilometres for low-flying objects. Simply put, for example, an air defense system with an S-300 range of over 100 kilometres won't be able to shoot down a target flying between 50 and 200 metres above the ground at a distance of less than 40 kilometres.
The only exception would be if an anti-aircraft battery received target information from another radar or, for instance, an AWACS type aircraft, which does not have a radar horizon since the radar is airborne. However, the Russians have very limited capabilities in this area, and their only alternative is using tall masts for the radar systems of anti-aircraft defense systems. These also have range limitations and make it easy to detect the position of the key component of the air defense battery.
This provides Ukrainian pilots with the opportunity to carry out precise strikes even now, though they are not immune to losses. It is worth noting that the Russians recently downed a second F-16.
Ukrainian tactics and AASM Hammer bombs — a perfect combination
In the realm of glide bombs, the Ukrainians have also received quite unique guided bombs, like the AASM Hammer, created by the French company Safran. These bombs have a much greater range than their competitors under such conditions.
A distinctive feature of the French bombs often seen on MiGs is the rocket booster that provides additional propulsion, enabling them to hit targets at distances of up to 15 kilometres despite being dropped from a low altitude. This capability allows for attacking targets secured by systems like the Pantir-S1 from a safe distance.
