Enemy UAV Orion with KAB-20 bomb shot down in Kherson region (photo)
The KAB-20 high-explosive fragmentation bomb was developed specifically for drones. It weighs 21 kg, of which the explosive charge is 7 kg.
Ukrainian defenders in the Kherson region have downed an enemy Orion drone. Judging by the wreckage, the machine was armed with new Russian KAB-20 guided aerial bombs designed specifically for this class of UAV. This was reported on May 16 by the Polish edition of Defence 24.
The authors of the publication noted that the photos published online show a fragment of a wing with a weapon pylon, on which another bomb remained. This is a KAB-20 guided aerial bomb developed by the Kronstadt company, which produces, among other things, Orion unmanned aerial vehicles.
#Ukraine: The remains of a very rare Russian Orion unmanned combat aerial vehicle which was shot down by the Ukrainian military over #Kherson Oblast. The drone was armed with at least one KAB-20 guided aerial bomb.
Though this loss is not recent, it appears to be undocumented. pic.twitter.com/JTdWGq4sfR
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 14, 2023
Briefly about KAB-20
Observers write that the KAB-20 bomb was designed specifically for drones, so it weighs only 21 kg, of which the explosive charge is only 7 kg.
The high-explosive warhead has a small kill zone, but the bomb is equipped with a non-contact fuze and has laser guidance. The KAB-20 is a classic glide bomb – its range depends on the height and speed at which it is dropped. Although there is no official information on the technical characteristics, it is likely that the range of the munition is 8 km.
“There is information that in April 2023, a version of the KAB-20S with satellite guidance from the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) entered service,” the article says.
Given the duration of the Orion’s continuous flight, which is 24 hours with a maximum ceiling of 7,500 meters and a speed of 200 km/h, this class of munitions poses a threat that cannot be underestimated, experts said.
On January 11, a Russian strike and reconnaissance drone carrying KAB-20S bombs crashed in the Belgorod region. Local residents claim that they heard a humming noise for some time, after which they saw a bright flash in the sky, and at the same time, electricity went out in their homes.
