Due to constant uncertainty regarding the volume and timing of foreign weapons deliveries, Ukraine is relying on its own technological solutions. The domestic company DG Industry, with the support of the Brave1 defense cluster, has created a new guided aerial bomb called the Equalizer.
Due to constant uncertainty regarding the volume and timing of foreign weapons deliveries, Ukraine is relying on its own technological solutions. The domestic company DG Industry, with the support of the Brave1 defense cluster, has created a new guided aerial bomb called the Equalizer.
Previously, dev.ua reported that official development began in 2024, and the first successful tests were conducted by May 2025. The creation of this ammunition took 17 months from concept to working prototype. Currently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are officially purchasing the "Equalizer" to perform combat missions at the front.
For the need for long-range aerial weapons, the Ukrainian Armed Forces previously relied entirely on Western partners, using the American JDAM-ER, SDB and French AASM-250 Hammer. The main problem was not only the risk of delivery delays, but also the strict restrictions that foreign donors periodically imposed on the use of their weapons, writes The War Zone.
The "Equalizer" solves both problems. Ukraine receives its own high-precision weapons, the production of which can be scaled regardless of the political situation in partner countries. In addition, domestic CABs are not subject to any external taboos regarding targets and geography of strikes.
The enemy has significantly increased the use of its own guided aerial bombs - over 300 drops per day. The appearance of the Ukrainian analogue allows the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to deliver symmetrical high-precision strikes on the enemy's logistics and command posts from a safe distance.
The "Equalizer" is a modular control and planning complex that converts conventional unguided ("free-fall") bombs into high-precision guided munitions with a folding wing.
Type: glider bomb (without its own engine).
Range: tens of kilometers due to aerodynamics and inertia. In parallel, development of engine-powered versions to increase range to 200 km (125 miles) is underway.
Guidance system: modern navigation and control algorithms, designed specifically to actively counter enemy electronic warfare systems.
Carriers: the ammunition is fully integrated with Soviet aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force (Su-24, Su-27, MiG-29). It is also possible to adapt it to Western F-16 and Mirage fighters (after additional certification).
The main task of DG Industry and Brave1 was to avoid critical dependence on foreign components. All key elements are developed domestically. The only exceptions are basic microcircuits and chips, which are not manufactured in Ukraine.
“Structurally, the product differs from both Russian and foreign analogues. During development, the developers studied existing systems, taking into account real combat experience and feedback from the military. As a result, the product combines all the advantages of existing solutions, while eliminating their shortcomings. Everything — from the wings to the flight controller software — was developed in Ukraine, with the exception of chips and microcircuits. As for the component base, approximately 90% consists of Ukrainian, European and American parts. In general, the company managed to avoid critical dependence on foreign components,” a Brave1 spokesperson told the publication.
All this guarantees stable production and secure supply chains even in the event of significant disruptions in the global arms market.
