Russia is increasingly using high-explosive aerial bombs (FABs) in areas near the frontline, thus minimising the possibility of its own aircraft being damaged by Ukrainian air defences. These bombs played a key role during the capture of Avdiivka by the aggressor state: Russians used them to destroy the city completely. These ammunitions also allow the Russian army to advance deeper into Ukrainian territories. High explosive and cluster bombs, which are currently a key threat on the frontline, are packed with foreign components.  Russians also improved FABs with Unified gliding and correction modules (UMPK) with a range of 40-60 km.  These modules transformed freefalling Soviet bombs into guided ones. The UMPK is currently known to be used with FAB-250, FAB-500M-62, FAB-1500, RBK-500, and the Grom-1E missile and bomb system. Ukrainian media project about sanctions Trap Aggressor for the first time publishes data on manufacturers and Western components for this type of weapon.

According to The Guardian, in 2023 Basalt was producing 500 UMPK units per month. 

In addition, the UMPKs are manufactured at enterprises which are part of the Tactical Missiles Corporation, including the State Scientific Production Enterprise (GNPP) Region JCS. As of 2022, the GNPP Region JSC had its own developments and schemes of the UMPK manufacturing for FABs. The company’s CEO is Igor Krylov, who in 2019 bragged about the use of their weapons in Syria.

In September 2023, during the visit of Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to one of the Tactical Missile Corporation’s enterprises, the video footage captured the production process of UMPK components.

In January 2024, Shoigu showed the production of the FAB-1500 equipped with UMPK.

Dozens of other Russian enterprises are also involved in UMPK manufacturing:

• Morion U JSC is a manufacturer of a generator for the UMPK. 
• GEFEST & T CJSC manufactures a specialised computing subsystem, SVP-24 Gefest, which is installed on some UMPK carrier aircraft. 
• Urals Project Design Bureau Detal JSC develops parts for the UMPK. 
• Soedynytel JSC supplies components for Urals Project Design Bureau Detal JSC.
• Special Design Technological Bureau Kurganpribor JSC repairs, maintains and restores UMPK units.
• Military–industrial complex Mashinostroeniya JSC assembles mechanical parts for the UMPK.
• VNIIR-Progress JSC supplies Kometa-M products. 
• Arzam Scientific Production Enterprise Temp-Avia JSC and Federal State Budgetary Institution Zhukovsky Central Aerohydrodynamics Institute develop technical solutions, conduct research and tests. 
• Petrovsky Electromechanical Plant Molot JSC manufactures components for the UMPK, which are used to equip the FAB-500.
• Severny Press JSC supplies UMPK parts for FAB-500.
• Severny Technopark LLC is involved in the manufacturing of FAB-500 with the UMPK module installed.
• Voskresensky Aggregate Plant JSC assembles and equips aerial bombs for GNPP Region JSC (UPAB-1500B-3, KAB-500-OD, KAB-250LG-3, KAB-500Kr, KAB-500S-3 and KAB-1500Kr). 
• Gruppa Kremniy El JSC is one of the major suppliers of electronic components for the GNPP Region JSC. 
• The 929th Chkalov State Flight Test Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation trains pilots and specialists to use aerial bombs equipped with UMPK, testing and modifications. 
• UEC Saturn PJSC manufactures engines for the UMPK equipped with an airbreathing jet engine.

Experts report that a number of key electronic elements in the guided bombs were imported to Russia via China, Thailand and Turkey. Trap Aggressor has obtained unique information about Western components in the UMPK. Unfortunately, Russians have removed or varnished the labelling on many of them to make identification impossible. 

Electronic components found in the UMPK FAB-500M62 unit

In addition, microchips of the RS-232 driver manufactured by Sipex Corporation (USA) and RS-845/RS-422 protocol converters manufactured by Analog Devices (USA) are used in the manufacturing of UMPK.

The module also includes the Kometa-M satellite navigation system manufactured by VNIIR-Progress, a company that belongs to the group of companies owned by Serbian pro-Russian politician Nenad Popovic. 

VNIIR-Progress JSC directly imports the main components for the production of Kometa-M modules. 

According to Trap Aggressor, in September 2023, the company imported Altera programmable gate arrays from China and Turkey for a total of more than $500,000. The suppliers are Xiefeng HK Int L Electronics LTD and Alfatrex Dis Ticaret Limited Sirketi. VNIIR-Progress also imported Taoglas products worth $100,000 from India. The supplier is the company SI2 Microsystems Private Limited, which has recently been sanctioned by the US and EU. 

Trap Aggressor has previously reported that Kometa-M is also used in the Russian manufacturing of Shahed attack drones.

Russia is improving its arms production for systematic destruction of Ukrainian cities and towns. However, the aggressor country is still unable to manufacture most of the electronics without which the production of arms is impossible. We call on the US and EU governments to add these companies to the sanctions lists and make it impossible for the enemy to circumvent sanctions through third countries.