This weekend, a video shared on X by the account OSINTtechnical captured a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum executing a striking barrel roll while releasing four US-supplied GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs toward a Russian position, drawing widespread attention amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
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The footage, posted on Sunday, March 16, 2025, does not specify when it was recorded, but its release has sparked intense discussion about Ukraine’s evolving aerial capabilities and the integration of Western technology into its Soviet-era fleet.
The video shows the agile fighter jet, designed during the Cold War as an air superiority aircraft, performing an aerobatic maneuver before deploying precision-guided munitions, underscoring Kyiv’s efforts to adapt its aging aircraft for precision strikes against Russian forces in the war that escalated in February 2022.
Footage of a Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 Fulcrum launching a quartet of US-supplied GBU-39 SDB glide bombs at a Russian position while performing a barrel roll. pic.twitter.com/pmN9pFIalN
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 16, 2025
The integration of the GBU-39 bombs—250-pound precision-guided munitions typically used by U.S. forces—into Ukraine’s MiG-29s marks a significant milestone in the military partnership between Kyiv and its Western allies, particularly the United States. This process began in late 2023, following U.S. pledges to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities against Russia’s invasion.
According to open-source intelligence reports and military analysts, the integration required extensive modifications to the MiG-29’s avionics, including upgrades to its radar, GPS, and inertial navigation systems to handle NATO-standard munitions.
U.S. defense contractors, working alongside Ukrainian engineers from the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, spearheaded this effort, as documented in November 2024 by the Telegram channel Sonyashnyk, which reported a similar operation involving a MiG-29 dropping eight GBU-39 bombs.
This collaboration has enabled Ukraine to extend its operational range, targeting Russian positions with greater accuracy while minimizing exposure to enemy air defenses, which have forced Russian aircraft to adopt lower-altitude tactics, we noted earlier.
The MiG-29 Fulcrum, developed by the Soviet Union’s Mikoyan design bureau in the 1970s, was originally engineered to rival U.S. jets like the F-15 and F-16, emphasizing agility, short takeoff and landing capabilities, and high maneuverability. In Ukraine’s current conflict, the aircraft has been repurposed for ground-attack missions, reconnaissance, and air patrols, often flying at low altitudes to evade Russian radar systems.
Justin Bronk, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, stated in a 2023 analysis, “The MiG-29 has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience, maintaining operational relevance despite its aging design, heavy losses, and limited maintenance infrastructure.”
Its ability to integrate Western munitions, such as the GBU-39 and AGM-88 HARM missiles—whose fragments were recovered by Russian forces and confirmed by U.S. officials—demonstrates its adaptability, though challenges persist due to its Soviet-era technology and the strain of wartime operations.
Despite its strategic importance, the MiG-29 has suffered significant losses in the conflict, reflecting the intense aerial competition between Ukraine and Russia. Recently, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported, as cited by BulgarianMilitary.com on March 10, 2025, that its air defenses and Su-30SM2 fighters downed a Ukrainian MiG-29 within the past week, alongside 50 drones and five JDAM bombs.
This incident adds to a documented tally of at least 29 MiG-29s destroyed and three damaged by Russian forces since the war began, according to Wikipedia data updated as of March 4, 2025. These losses underscore the vulnerability of Ukraine’s smaller air force, which struggles to match Russia’s larger, more modern fleet, including upgraded MiG-29SMT and MiG-29K variants equipped with precision-guided munitions like the KAB-500 bomb.
A commenter on X, Free Syria Media Hub, questioned the accuracy of the GBU-39 drops shown in the video, asking, “Is dropping them like that the best way to get accurate results? And what’s the target in the downrange video—I couldn’t find anything?” This reflects broader uncertainties about the operation’s effectiveness, as the downrange footage shared by OSINTtechnical shows a barren landscape with no clear impact evidence.
Ukraine’s MiG-29 fleet comprises a variety of models, including the baseline MiG-29, MiG-29S1M, MiG-29P1M, MiG-29UBM1, and MiG-29PU1M, each tailored for specific roles. These jets are equipped with a mix of Soviet-era and Western systems, such as the R-27 Alamo and R-73 Archer air-to-air missiles, alongside NATO-standard AIM-9X missiles, as detailed in ArmyRecognition.com reports from November 2024.
The GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb, used in the recent video, relies on GPS guidance and can strike targets over 40 nautical miles away when launched from high altitude, enhancing Ukraine’s ability to conduct long-range precision strikes.
The aircraft also features upgraded avionics, including NATO-compatible communication systems and GPS/INS navigation, supported by modifications to their weapon release mechanisms. Maintenance and upgrades have been a collaborative effort, with Poland and the U.S. providing technical support and spare parts.
In 2022, Poland offered to transfer its MiG-29 fleet to Ukraine via the U.S. Ramstein Air Base, though logistical and political challenges limited the transfer. More recently, Ukraine’s 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade, with assistance from U.S. contractors, has worked to keep the jets operational despite sanctions on Soviet-era spare parts and the pressures of war.
The GBU-39’s deployment, as showcased in the video shared this weekend, highlights Ukraine’s strategy to leverage Western technology to counter Russia’s aerial dominance. The bomb’s precision and range allow Ukrainian pilots to target Russian positions while reducing their exposure to advanced Russian air defenses, such as the S-400 and Pantsir systems, which have forced Moscow’s aircraft to adopt riskier low-altitude tactics.
However, the effectiveness of these strikes remains difficult to verify, as the lack of visible impact in the downrange footage raises questions about targeting accuracy and operational outcomes.
Another X user, Suppressedsmallarmsshooter, simply shared the downrange video, while others, like KentPalero, noted, “All paid for, from the bombs to the fuel, targeting intel, salaries, etc., by the USA,” pointing to the extensive U.S. financial and logistical support for Ukraine’s military efforts.
The broader context of the Russia-Ukraine war reveals the MiG-29’s critical yet precarious role in Ukraine’s defense strategy. Russia’s air force, bolstered by newer platforms like the Su-35, Su-34, and modernized MiG-29 variants, maintains a numerical and technological advantage, but Ukraine’s MiG-29s have inflicted notable losses on Russian aircraft, as acknowledged by both sides.
Ukrainian defenses, enhanced by Western-supplied systems like MANPADS and S-300s, have targeted Russian jets, including MiG-29s, though Kyiv’s own fleet continues to shrink due to combat losses and maintenance challenges.
Historical data from Wikipedia indicates that in April 2014, during Russia’s annexation of Crimea, 45 Ukrainian MiG-29s were captured at the Belbek air base, with most inoperable; by August 2014, some were returned to service to fight in eastern Ukraine. More recently, on September 20, 2023, a Ukrainian MiG-29 was struck by a ZALA Lancet drone at the Dolgintsevo air base, highlighting the evolving threats faced by these aircraft.
The video’s release this weekend, without a confirmed recording date, adds an element of mystery to an already complex narrative, leaving analysts to speculate on its timing and strategic significance. For Ukraine, the MiG-29 remains a vital asset, symbolizing resilience despite its aging design and the pressures of war.
The integration of U.S. munitions like the GBU-39 reflects a deepening partnership with the West, but also the high risks faced by Ukrainian pilots, who operate in contested skies against a formidable Russian air force.
As the conflict continues, the MiG-29’s role will likely remain central, shaped by technological upgrades, battlefield losses, and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the war. The latest reports, including the Russian claim of downing a MiG-29 last week, underscore the ongoing intensity of aerial operations, with Ukraine’s ability to maintain its air force hanging in the balance.
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