‘Drop-and-Forget’: Russia Develops Supersonic KAB-250 'Smart Bomb'.

‘Drop-and-Forget’: Russia Develops Supersonic KAB-250 'Smart Bomb'. (SP).

The latest version of Russia's KAB-250 precision-guided bomb will soon complete trials, Russian media reported on Saturday.

The KAB-250 is a follow-on to the larger KAB-500 PGM, which made its combat debut in September in Syria. There are two versions of the 250-kilogram KAB: a laser-guided version and a satellite-guided version.

Based on the “drop-and-forget” principle, the KAB-250 guided aerial bomb incorporates the latest advances in science and technology, including the experience of its KAB-500 predecessor.

The inertial guidance system directs the bomb towards the target area. Two to three kilometers from the target the bomb’s onboard computer commands the thermal homing head to acquire the designated target.

The KAB-250’s thermal homing head then compares the acquired image with the reference picture laid down in its memory before discharge, and corrects the trajectory so that the radius of the deviation does not exceed three meters.

The KAB-250 has a fragmentation warhead designed to destroy lightly vulnerable materiel, thin-skinned vehicles, and other enemy installations. The bomb can be dropped individually or in salvoes.

The KAB-250 is 10.5 feet long, weighs a total of 565 pounds, with a 365 pound warhead and a 200-pound explosive.

The KAB-250LG-E's total weight is 256 kg, with a warhead of 165 kg and explosive weighing 96 kg.

The bomb is 3.2 m long, with a diameter of 255 mm and a wingspan of 550 mm. It has a complex, compact tail design and is fitted with four long-chord, short-span wings to increase its glide range. Drop altitude is 1-10 km, aircraft drop speed is 200-350 m/s.

According to Krylov, the KAB-250 was developed in response to the development of the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) by the United States to equip its F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation fighters.

The KAB-250 has a fragmentation warhead designed to destroy lightly vulnerable materiel, thin-skinned vehicles, and other enemy installations. The bomb can be dropped individually or in salvoes. The aircraft carrying the KAB-250LG-Es must be fitted with a laser illumination system or the target can be illuminated by a forward air controller.