Ukraine buys homegrown Equalizer glide bomb to cut foreign reliance

Key Points:

• Ukraine is purchasing a domestically developed glide bomb called the Vyrivniuvach, or "Equalizer," designed to enable pilots to strike Russian forces from safer distances and reduce reliance on Western-supplied weapons.
• The Equalizer, created by Ukrainian company DG Industry with support from government-backed Brave1, converts conventional bombs into precision weapons by adding wings and guidance systems, compatible with MiG-29, Su-24, and Su-27 warplanes.
• While the bomb's wings and flight-control software are Ukrainian-made, about 90% of its components, including chips and microcircuits, come from Ukraine, Europe, and the U.S., so full independence from foreign supply chains is not achieved.
• The weapon could eventually be adapted for use with donated F-16 and Mirage jets pending further certification, but its deployment timeline and combat use remain unclear.
• Russia has intensified its use of glide bombs against Ukraine, with over 8,300 guided aerial bombs dropped in July alone, underscoring Ukraine's urgent need for improved air-defense capabilities from Western allies.