The MAKS International Aerospace Salon regularly becomes a platform for the first demonstration of various latest developments. This year's exhibition was no exception. For the first time, several types of new equipment and weapons were demonstrated, including promising aircraft weapons. Thus, the State Scientific and Production Enterprise "Region", which is part of the Corporation "Tactical Missile Armament", showed the newest guided bomb KAB-250LG-E, which is planned to be offered to foreign customers.
The new bomb is intended to destroy various equipment, fortifications, warehouses, infrastructure elements and other enemy targets. Due to the use of the guidance system, the bomb has a sufficiently high accuracy of hitting the target, thereby increasing its combat effectiveness. As follows from the letter "E" in the designation, a promising guided munition is offered for supply to foreign customers.
It is noteworthy that the KAB-250LG-E is the first Russian export guided bomb of this caliber. Previously, domestic manufacturers offered foreign customers weapons of this class in caliber 500 and 1500 kg. Relatively light bombs were not on the list of weapons available for order. The emergence of a new bomb leads to an expansion of the range of export guided weapons, and also allows Russian industry to start developing a new sector of the international market. According to the development organization, in the future, even lighter adjustable bombs may appear.
When developing a new project, the specialists of the State Scientific and Production Enterprise "Region" paid special attention to several basic requirements aimed at improving the characteristics and overall combat effectiveness of weapons. So, it was required to ensure reliable defeat of various targets in any weather conditions and at any time of the day. It was planned to increase the range of the bomb by improving the design of the ammunition itself, as well as by expanding the permissible ranges of speed and altitude of the carrier aircraft when dropping the bomb. Finally, it was planned to increase the noise immunity of guidance systems and introduce additional finishing channels into their composition.
The promising KAB-250LG-E guided bomb is built according to the classic scheme for such a weapon. This product received a body made up of several cylindrical and conical parts. In the head part there is a hemispherical transparent fairing of the homing head. The total length of the bomb is 3.2 m, the maximum diameter of the body is 25.5 cm. Two groups of planes are provided on the outer surface of the body. In the middle part (with a noticeable shift towards the tail), X-shaped wings of low aspect ratio are installed, in the tail part there are stabilizers of a similar design, on which there is a set of aerodynamic rudders. The maximum span of the planes is 55 cm. The total weight of the product is 256 kg.
There is no official information about the layout of the bomb yet. Nevertheless, it is clear that homing equipment is located in the head of the product, and steering machines are placed in the tail. The middle part of the hull is occupied by the warhead and, probably, by some other units.
The KAB-250LG-E bomb is equipped with a laser homing head, which ensures the highest possible hitting accuracy. The bomb is aimed at a target illuminated by a laser beam. The illumination of the enemy object can be carried out by a bomb carrier aircraft or other aircraft. In addition, illumination from the ground with the help of appropriate equipment is not excluded. The circular probable deviation on hit is stated at 5 m.
A high-explosive fragmentation warhead is used to destroy the target. The warhead has a total weight of 165 kg, of which 96 kg falls on the explosive charge. To detonate the warhead, the new bomb is equipped with a contact fuse with three modes of operation. The fuse mode determines the deceleration time, after which the warhead is detonated. Thus, the KAB-250LG-E bomb can explode both upon direct contact with the target and after penetrating into an enemy object.
The carriers of a promising corrected aerial bomb can be tactical aircraft of various types. It is assumed that the existing Su-34 and Su-35S aircraft will be able to use such weapons. In addition, it is planned to ensure compatibility with the fifth generation T-50 fighter (PAK FA). The main requirements for a potential carrier concern the composition of the avionics. For the effective use of KAB-250LG-E products, the aircraft must have its own target laser illumination system.
Regardless of the type, the carrier aircraft must drop the bomb, observing the requirements for permissible speeds and altitudes. Dumping is allowed at speeds of 200-350 m / s and at altitudes from 1 to 10 km. In such cases, the most effective use of weapons is ensured. The range of the bomb after the drop has not yet been published. The aerodynamic appearance of the bomb allows us to make some estimates, however, one should take into account the limitations imposed by the onboard target designation system of the carrier aircraft and other factors.
The new guided bomb was first shown at the recent MAKS-2015 exhibition. For obvious reasons, the prospects for this weapon are still unknown. Such weapons are of certain interest for both domestic and foreign customers. However, information about possible orders has not yet been received due to the recent "premiere" of the project. The first information about possible deliveries of KAB-250LG-E bombs should appear later.
