Russia’s military is busy reviewing the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by its military in Syria as it continues the process of modernizing and upgrading its fighting capabilities. Moscow’s previous conflict in Georgia and its ongoing involvement in Syria have underscored Russia’s need for robust ground-attack capabilities that should minimize collateral damage while maximizing the efficiency of target acquisition. To that end, precision-guided munitions become key to achieving tactical success in a complex battlefield environment such as that in Syria.
According to a recent analysis by the Russian daily Izvestia, the Russian Air Force utilized upgraded SPBE RBK-500-D homing munitions during recent fighting near Aleppo. The weapon is designed to take out modern armored vehicles in the field. The strikes around Aleppo are controversial because Russians often hit civilians as well as anti-regime fighters that are nominally pro-American.
“‘Syria has become a testing ground for Russian weapons,’ military expert Alexei Ramm told the newspaper. ‘In beginning of the Syrian campaign, ‘old’ Soviet-made ammunition was utilized. Now, judging by the photographs, Russian military used their new versions.’”
Attacks on Aleppo often catch civilians in the crosshairs, as evidenced in such indiscriminate acts as the bombing of a children's hospital by Syrian forces with the support of their Russian partners. Russians are intent on using the RBK-500 against T-55 tanks and BMP-1 armored vehicles in service with ISIS. Some of those vehicles were captured from government forces, while some fell to the rebels when Syrian army units defected to their side. ISIS also operates a large number of improvised armored vehicles made from heavy cars, trucks, and farming tractors.
According to Izvestia, the RBK-500 is a 500-kilogram bomb made up of separate impact elements and designed to destroy armored vehicles and facilities. After it is dropped from an aircraft, the main body of the bomb opens to free up attack elements that are capable of scattering in different directions for independent target search. Descending on parachutes, they scan the area with an infrared guidance system and, once locating a tank or an infantry combat vehicle, launch an attack with an exploding projectile. The ordnance is essentially a projectile hitting its target with the force and speed of 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) per second.
Izvestia quotes Victor Murakhovski, military expert and editor of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine: "'No modern tank, infantry fighting vehicle or a well-fortified enemy infrastructure can survive the hit by the targeting projectile. RBK-500-D SPBEs were first used in 2008 during conflict zone in South Ossetia (when Russian forces invaded Georgia). Back then, Russian Smerch multiple-launch rocket systems, equipped with SPBE-D warheads, destroyed the ammunition depots of the Georgian army. In Syria, this ammunition was used by Sukhoi Su-24 fighter-bombers.'"
According to Murakhovski, SPBE projectiles attack armored vehicles in their most vulnerable area -- the upper section of the turret. SPBE-D is capable of penetrating armor 150-160 mm (6 inches) thick.
All this may spell trouble for Ukrainian military forces in their continued engagement with pro-Russian separatists. According to the Ukrainian daily Obzrevatel newspaper, Russia has deployed several battalions to the Donbas region, where Ukrainian forces have been battling pro-Russia secessionist groups since 2014. The paper's source cites tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, and KamAZ trucks with soldiers. The source also discussed snap drills checks by Moscow: "'A lot of top brass came from Russia - from colonels to generals. We've never seen such large-scale tests before.'" The Donbas region is on alert for the potential resumption of military hostilities. The Ukrainian government is reporting increasing attacks on its forces by the pro-Russian separatists.