Ukraine conflict: Kyiv to field first domestically designed glide bomb

An image from a video released by Ukraine's Brave1 showing the AFU's first glide bomb shortly after being dropped from an Su-24 during trials. Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov said on 18 May 2026 that it is shortly to enter operational service. (Brave1)

Ukraine is to shortly to field its first domestically designed glide bomb, the country's defence minister announced on 18 May 2026.

Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov said that the 250 lb bomb was now ready for operational use, following 17-months of development.

“The first Ukrainian glide bomb from Brave1 is ready for combat deployment,” Fedorov said. “Pilots are currently rehearsing combat scenarios and adapting the new weapon system for use in real wartime conditions. Soon, Ukrainian glide bombs will be striking enemy targets.”

Working under the auspices of Brave1, a defence technology cluster supported by the Ukrainian government, DG Industry has developed the new weapon to utilise a wing-kit to strike Russian fortifications and command posts “dozens of km” behind enemy lines. According to Brave1, the weapon “was designed from scratch — not copied from Western or Soviet systems”. No details pertaining to its guidance system were disclosed, although it will likely be use a combination of global navigational satellite services (GNSS) and an inertial navigation system (INS), based on similar systems already in use.

Test footage showed the glide-bomb being dropped from a Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 ‘Fencer' strike aircraft, although it will likely be compatible with all other combat types now flown by the service.

Brave1 said the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already placed its first order for an undisclosed number of the new bombs. No designation or name was given for the new weapon.