Ukraine’s Equalizer bomb aims to cut Western weapons reliance
Ukraine news this week centers on Kyiv’s new homegrown guided glide bomb, the Vyrivniuvach or “Equalizer.” Developed by DG Industry with Brave1 support, it has finished testing and is being purchased for the armed forces—aiming to reduce reliance on U.S. and European precision munitions while letting pilots strike from safer distances.
Key Takeaways
- Ukraine is buying the Equalizer (Vyrivniuvach), a domestic glide kit that turns conventional bombs into guided weapons for MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27 jets.
- About 90% of parts come from Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S.; wings and flight-control software are Ukrainian, while chips and microcircuits are imported.
- Developers took roughly 17 months from concept to prototype; viability was confirmed by May 2025 after successful tests.
- A Ukrainian defense figure said combat-use trials of a domestic guided bomb (20–100 km range, 250 kg warhead) are under way, with funding for scaling.
For more breaking coverage across the newsroom, see our True Crime & Unsolved Mysteries hub. Reporting from Fox News and Ukrainian outlets describes a push for supply-chain control as foreign military aid stays uncertain.
What is Ukraine’s Equalizer bomb?
The Equalizer adds wings and guidance systems to a conventional bomb, creating a precision glide weapon. Brave1 told The War Zone the design differs from both Russian and Western equivalents. Unlike France’s AASM Hammer, the current version has no engine; officials have not said whether future variants will add propulsion.
UNITED24 Media reported that Ukrainian engineers built nearly all core elements locally—from wing structure to flight-controller software. Foreign dependence is limited mainly to specific chips and microcircuits. Roughly 90% of the component base originates from Ukraine, Europe, and the United States.
Why does this matter for Ukraine’s air war?
Until now, Ukrainian warplanes have relied heavily on U.S.-supplied JDAM-ER kits and Small Diameter Bombs, plus French Hammer bombs, for precision strikes from safer ranges. The Equalizer could give Kyiv more control over its own guided-bomb supply as allied deliveries remain unpredictable.
It is designed for drop from MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27 aircraft so pilots can hit targets farther behind Russian lines while staying farther from air defenses. Brave1 said it could eventually arm donated F-16 and Mirage jets after additional certification.
Russia’s glide-bomb campaign has intensified pressure on Ukrainian troops and towns. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said Russian forces dropped more than 8,300 guided aerial bombs in July—the highest monthly total of the war, averaging more than 267 a day.
Has the Equalizer entered combat use?
A Ukrainian military official told Ukrinform the bomb finished testing and is now being bought for the armed forces. Fox News Digital reported it is not yet clear when large numbers will reach units or whether the weapon has already been used in combat.
Separately, retired Lt. Gen. Ihor Romanenko told Espreso that Ukraine is conducting combat-use trials of its own guided aerial bomb with a range of 20 to 100 km and a 250 kg warhead. He said funding and scaling are included because the need is urgent, and stressed pairing Ukrainian air-launched weapons with Western aircraft such as F-16s and Mirages.
Development began about two years ago amid worries over foreign delivery stability. After successful tests, teams confirmed design viability by May 2025 and moved to implementation. The Equalizer does not make Ukraine fully independent of foreign supply chains, but it marks a concrete step toward reducing critical reliance on imported guided munitions.