From November 2023, the Russian Air Force is likely to more frequently use 500-kilogram cassette bombs RBK-500, equipped with guided planning devices.
This information comes from RBC-Ukraine, citing the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom on Twitter.
According to the report, depending on the variant, each RBK-500 releases approximately 100 to 350 submunitions. Each submunition typically explodes with hundreds of high-speed fragments or a larger anti-tank charge.
It is reported that RBK-500 have been deployed against Ukrainian forces on the Vuhledar axis and near Avdiivka, both in Donetsk region.
According to British intelligence, there is a real possibility that, like with other air-dropped bombs, Russia has recently integrated a guided planning device kit, UMPC, into RBK-500. This allows the carrier aircraft to release the munition several kilometers away from the target.
"However, with its large number of sub-munitions, a single RBK-500 can cause effects over an area of several hundred metres, increasing the chance of inflicting at least some damage on the intended target," notes the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom.
