UK intelligence: Russia to more frequently use 500 kg cluster munition bombs

Through November 2023, the Russian air force has likely started to more frequently employ the RBK-500 500 kg cluster munition bombs.

Depending on the variant, each RBK-500 ejects between approximately 100 and 350 sub-munitions, Caliber.Az reports citing the message of UK’s Defence Ministry on X.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 29 November 2023.

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— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) November 29, 2023

In turn, each sub-munition typically detonates with either hundreds of high-velocity fragments, or a single, larger anti-tank charge. RBK-500 are reported to have been deployed against Ukrainian forces on the Vuhledar axis and near Avdiivka, both in Donetsk Oblast. There is a realistic possibility that, as with other air-dropped bombs, Russia has likely recently integrated a UMPC guided stand-off glide kit with RBK-500.

This allows the carrying aircraft to release the munition many kilometres away from the target. Russia’s glide bomb kits have generally achieved poor accuracy. 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.