Low-Altitude Strike: MiG-29 Destroys Russian Drone Command Center

14 July 2025

Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet flies at low altitude. Ukraine, Zaporizhia. July 2025. Source: t.me/AIR_FIGHTER_life

In the Zaporizhzhia region, a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet launched a precision strike using GBU-39 guided bombs on a Russian drone command center.

Footage of the operation was shared by AIR FIGHTER, a Telegram channel associated with Ukrainian combat aviation.

The jet flew at an ultra-low altitude during the attack to ensure mission success and evade Russian air defense systems.

At low altitudes, aircraft are able to evade radar detection – especially in conditions of low visibility or in areas covered by air defense systems with a limited range.

In the launch area, MiG-29 engaged afterburners, rapidly gained altitude, and released GBU-39 precision-guided bombs.

The high-precision GBU-39 bombs struck a tree line where the invaders had set up a drone command center.

The GBU-39 bombs from the MiG-29 fighter jet hit the Russian drone control center in the Zaporizhzhia region. July 2025. Source: t.me/AIR_FIGHTER_life

These are compact American-made aerial bombs known for their high precision.

As early as last year, it became known that the Ukrainian Air Force had adapted Soviet-era combat aircraft to carry and deploy the GBU-39.

The GBU-39 bomb weighs 130 kg, has a diameter of approximately 190 mm, and is about 1.8 meters long. When dropped from high altitude, it has a maximum range of up to 110 kilometers.

A Ukrainian MiG-29AS with GBU-39. Source: NMFTE

The bomb is equipped with fold-out wings, which significantly extend its strike range. Thanks to its tungsten tip, it can penetrate concrete shelters during a dive.

The fuze system allows for selectable detonation modes—either an airburst or a delayed explosion after impact. Its high precision is achieved through a guidance system that combines inertial navigation with GPS.

Керована авіаційна бомба GBU-39 сімейства SDB. 2006 рік. Фото: Tom Gannam
A GBU-39 guided aerial bomb of the SDB family. 2006. Photo credits: Tom Gannam

Last year, the United States placed an order for new batches of GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs for its own Air Force as well as foreign customers. The contract, valued at up to $6.9 billion, covers the production and delivery of an unspecified number of GBU-39/B bombs, with fulfillment expected by approximately December 31, 2035.

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