Ukraine has begun procuring a new domestically produced guided bomb that could allow its fighter jets to strike Russian targets from greater distances while reducing the risk to pilots. The weapon, called the Vyrivniuvach, or “Equalizer,” has completed testing and is now being procured for Ukraine’s armed forces, a Ukrainian military official told Ukrinform. The development could also reduce Kyiv’s dependence on precision-guided munitions supplied by the United States and European countries.
4+One of the central challenges facing the Ukrainian Air Force is striking Russian targets without sending its aircraft deep into the range of Moscow’s air-defense systems. The newly developed Ukrainian bomb is intended to provide an answer. The Equalizer was developed by Ukrainian company DG Industry with assistance from Brave1, a Ukrainian government-backed organization promoting defense technology development. According to a Ukrainian military official cited by Ukrinform, the weapon has already completed testing and the procurement process for the military has begun.
The concept is relatively simple: Rather than developing an entirely new bomb, the system transforms conventional munitions into precision weapons capable of traveling greater distances through the air. Wings and a guidance system are added to the bomb. Once released from an aircraft, instead of simply falling toward the ground, it can glide toward its target and adjust its trajectory.
4+The operational significance could be particularly important for Ukraine. The farther the bomb can travel after release, the farther away an aircraft can remain from its target—reducing the need to approach Russian air-defense systems. The system is currently intended for Ukraine’s MiG-29, Su-24 and Su-27 aircraft. According to Brave1, it could eventually be adapted for the F-16 and Mirage fighter jets Kyiv has received from its allies. Additional approvals and testing will be required before that can happen.
4+Until now, Ukraine has relied heavily on Western munitions to conduct precision strikes from longer ranges. Kyiv has received JDAM-ER kits and Small Diameter Bombs from the United States, as well as French-made Hammer bombs. The Equalizer could allow Ukraine to produce a greater share of this type of weapon itself—an important advantage at a time when the scale of foreign military assistance is not always certain. The bomb, however, is not entirely Ukrainian-made. According to Brave1, the wings and flight-control software were developed domestically, while chips and electronic components are sourced from abroad. Approximately 90% of the system’s components originate in Ukraine, Europe and the United States.
4+The Ukrainian development comes against the backdrop of Russia’s extensive use of glide bombs against targets in Ukraine. The ability to launch heavy munitions from a distance allows Russian aircraft to strike Ukrainian positions and forces without necessarily entering the most dangerous range for them. According to Ukraine’s Defense Ministry, during July Russian forces dropped more than 8,300 guided aerial bombs—the highest monthly figure since the start of the war.
At the same time, Russia has also intensified missile and drone attacks. In a nighttime barrage toward Kyiv and its surroundings, at least 16 people were killed and about 40 wounded, according to Ukrainian officials. Homes, a school, and a children’s hospital were among the damaged buildings.
4+The new bomb could improve Ukraine’s offensive capabilities, but it does not solve one of Kyiv’s greatest challenges—the shortage of defenses against Russian attacks. Ukraine continues to seek additional air-defense systems and interceptor missiles from the United States and its European allies. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States had agreed to provide interceptor missiles for Patriot systems every month, but warned that the quantities remain insufficient for his country’s needs.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has worked rapidly to expand its domestic weapons industry, particularly in areas where it cannot afford to remain entirely dependent on foreign supplies. The Equalizer fits into that effort. Instead of waiting for every shipment of guided munitions from the United States or Europe, Kyiv is attempting to build the capacity to produce more of the systems its air force needs at home.
The potential benefit is twofold: increasing Ukraine’s stockpile of precision weapons while allowing its pilots to strike Russian targets from safer distances. However, it remains too early to determine how significantly the new weapon will affect the battlefield. It is unclear when the Equalizer will reach Ukrainian units in large quantities, and officials have not disclosed whether it has already been used in combat.