JDAM-ER Strike Eliminates Russian Drone Operators in Kursk Region

Ukrainian tactical aviation destroyed a Russian drone operator position near the settlement of Tyotkino in Russia’s Kursk region.

The Soniashnyk Telegram channel published the footage of the incident.

The precision strike targeted a position occupied by enemy drone operators, though the specific type of UAVs involved was not disclosed.

According to the distinctive interface, target reconnaissance and damage assessment were conducted by the Ukrainian Leleka-100 drone.

The strike was carried out using an American GBU-62 JDAM-ER guided bomb.

According to the WarArchive project, the target was located in the settlement of Korovyakivka in the Glushkivsky district, somewhat farther from Tyotkino.

It was recently reported that the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck elements of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system in Russia’s Belgorod and Kursk regions.

This may have directly contributed to an increase in the frequency of Ukrainian airstrikes in these regions.

JDAM

The JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) kit converts conventional aerial bombs into precision-guided weapons equipped with an inertial navigation system and a GPS receiver.

The bomb is fitted with small wings in the midsection of the body, which provide additional flight range, as well as a tail section with steerable fins that allow course corrections during flight toward the target. This tail section houses the navigation and other electronic equipment.

The navigation system is activated before release, when the carrier aircraft transmits JDAM data about its own position and speed.

After release, the bomb independently flies to the designated coordinates. These coordinates can be loaded before the flight, changed by the crew in the air, or transmitted from onboard targeting systems.

The flight trajectory is programmed to ensure the target is struck at an optimal angle, which is especially important for penetrating fortified structures or evading air defenses.

The United States is providing Ukraine with the JDAM-ER (Extended Range) version, which has an increased range of up to 72.4 kilometers.