Russia attacks Kharkiv for the first time with a Grom-E1 missile-bomb

Russian troops recently hit Kharkiv with a Grom-E1 hybrid missile. This was the first use of this type of weapon against this city.

RBK-Ukraine provides the main characteristics of the Grom-E1 in the article below.

As you know, the first use of this weapon against Kharkiv was reported by the mayor Ihor Terekhov. According to him, it happened during an evening attack on the city on August 31, 2024.

According to open sources, the Grom-E1 hybrid missile is based on the Soviet X-38 missile. Its maximum range can be 120 km.

Tactical and technical characteristics:

• Launch weight: 594 kg.

• Warhead: high-explosive fragmentation warhead, 315 kg.

• Launch range: 10 km - 120 km.

• Launch altitude: 500 m - 12000 m.

• Carrier aircraft speed: 140 - 445 m/s.

• Average flight speed (launch altitude 12000 m, carrier speed 445 m/s, distance to target 120 km): 300 m/s.

• Linear overloads: up to 4g.

• Propulsion system: weight 161 kg, has a starting and a propulsion engine, it is possible to use a rocket engine from the X-38 missile.

This cruise missile (product 9-A-7759) has a high-explosive modular warhead (MW) of the 9-Zh1-7759 type, weighing 315 kg with a contact fuze. After the munition is dropped, the launch rocket engine starts, and after a while the main rocket engine starts to operate. The missile-bomb can descend on the target at a high angle.

In terms of efficiency, this hybrid missile is 1.8 times more effective than the OFAB-250-270 free-fall aircraft bomb.

It should be noted that, in addition to the basic Grom-E1, Russia also presented a modification of the Grom-E2. This version does not have a rocket engine module. This made it possible to increase the warhead (up to 480 kg) at the expense of reducing the flight range (up to 65 km). The system is part of the armament of MiG-35, Su-34, Su-35, Su-57 and helicopters.

Author - Olena Madiak, 02/09/2024