Russian pilots have tested self-homing core in Syria
Russian air and space defense forces have utilized modernized self-homing ammunition elements, designated RBK-500 SPBE-D. According to the information of “Izvesti” news, new modification of ammunition element with different weapon core, capable of penetrating the armor and disabling of any type of armored vehicle currently in use, has been utilized in recent clashes around ALEPPO. “Syria has become a testing ground for evaluation of Russian – made weapons”, says military expert Alexei RAMM. “It´s been third use of SPBE-D, since the beginning of the Syrian campaign. In the first case, It was obvious, that the weapons are obsolete, of soviet origin. Currently, according to the recent pictures, which show unexploded ammunition, we can deduce, that Russian air and space defense forces have used their new modifications.
ISIS has many of captured T-55 tanks and BMP-1 APC, which was taken from government forces, from deserters and looting of governmental storages. Also, they have many self-made armored vehicles, produced on the basis of regular vehicles and tractors.
RBK-500 is aviation ammunition. To be more precise, it is 500 kg aviation bomb, stuffed with individual strike elements SPBE-D, designed to destroy structures and armored vehicles of the enemy. After the release of the main case from the aircraft, the flaps open and the strike elements are thrown to various directions for individual target search and track. Descending on their parachutes, they scan entire area with the infra-red targeting system. After locating the tank or BMP, they attack it with so-called “strike core”. In fact, it is 1 kg copper casing, speeded up to 2000 m/s.
The impact of the “core” can´t be sustained by any modern tank, BMP or strengthened position of infrastructure of the enemy; as it was explained by Victor MURAKHOVSKIJ, journalist from “Arsenal otechestva” magazine. First recorded use of RBK-500 SPBE-D was in 2008, during the Georgia-Ossetian conflict in South Ossetia. Back then, Russian multiple rocket launchers “SMERCH”, equipped with weapon cores with SPBE-D, have destroyed the ammunition depot of Georgian army. In Syria, they are deployed from Su-24 frontline bombers.
According to the MURAKHOVSKIJ, the shell attacks armored vehicles from above, in to the most vulnerable part of the tank – the top of the turret. SPBE-D is capable of penetrating 150-160 mm thick armor. In case there is no target found in the designed area, the shell is equipped with self-destructing mechanism. RBK-500 SPBE-D is not the first of Russian´s Air and Space defense forces new ammunition, tested in real battle environment; said professor Vadim KOZYULIN, from the Academy of military strategies. During the operation in Syria, Su-24´s have utilized new search and track systems SVP-24 Gefest, which allow for usage of “dumb” bombs with “smart” targeting. Appearance of the “Gefest” came as a surprise for the western specialists, since they have considered achieving such accuracy with “dumb” bombs impossible. Moreover, as Vadim KOZYULIN notes, a new high explosive corrected aviation bombs KAB-500S has appeared in the arsenal of the Russian´s Air and Space defense forces. The bomb has integrated satellite navigation kit. These bombs are designed for destroying stationary land and naval targets; such as depots, military industrial objects, moored vessels in any time of the day and any weather conditions. They are based on “fire and forget” principle. KAB-500S-E ensures destroying of the targets, which coordinates are known before mission, or they can be set by the pilot, in the course of the flight.
SPBE-D is more cost-effective alternative to KAB-500S, specified Viktor MURAKHOVSKIJ. Even though such comparison is not entirely correct, in the case of the modern military equipment and weaponry. Nevertheless, there is quite a lot of expensive elements used in the SPBE-D – among them infra-red sensors, control system and GPS module.
As the experts say, RBK-500 SPBE-D is not just new name in aviation ammunition dictionary, but rather more cost-effective way of arming aircraft of frontal aviation. Unlike the unguided rockets, the guided bomb has more carrying capacity