How does the modernization of the FAB-1500 and FAB-3000 affect the course of its
The appearance in service with the Russian army of adjustable large-caliber FAB-1500 bombs has significantly increased the capabilities of front-line aviation. In particular, military experts attribute the success of Russian offensive operations in autumn 2023 and winter 2024 to the use of such ammunition. And specialists of the Russian defense industry are already developing unified planning and correction modules for the heaviest non—nuclear munition, the FAB-3000. How the UMPC was allowed to turn aerial bombs into high—precision weapons - in the material of Izvestia.
Killing power
On March 21, during the visit of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to a defense enterprise in the Nizhny Novgorod region, he was shown two types of heavy bombs that are currently being produced by our military industry. These are high—explosive aviation bombs of 1500 and 3000 kg caliber - FAB-1500 and FAB-3000. Today, these are the heaviest non-nuclear free-falling ammunition, which are produced at the factories of the Russian defense industry. And in recent months, their importance has become especially great: it is with their active use that many military experts — both domestic and foreign — associate the successes of the Russian offensive operations in autumn 2023 and winter 2024.
On September 5, 2023, the use of the FAB-1500 bomb with the UMPC planning and correction kit from the Su-34 front-line bomber was mentioned for the first time in the media and military reports.
FAB-1500 aviation bomb with UMPC
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
It should be clarified that 250 and 500 kg caliber bombs with UMPC kits have been used in the course of military operations since 2022. For ammunition of this capacity, UMPC kits were developed even before the SVO. Their peculiarity is also that usually with such a module, bombs of the 1962 model form factor - M-62 - are used. These are streamlined bombs that were created at one time to be placed on the external suspensions of high-speed, including supersonic, aircraft. Equipping such ammunition with wings and a control system was a logical and expected decision — the same thing was done in the United States and some other NATO countries at the time.
With the UMPC kit, a bomb dropped at an altitude of several kilometers at a speed of 900-1000 km/ h can plan for a distance of up to 60-70 km and becomes a high-precision ammunition with a deviation from the aiming point of literally 5 m. The dispersion of conventional bombs is usually tens of meters. And it is logical that with the use of UMPC, a target that previously required 20-25 bombs to be spent on can be guaranteed to be destroyed by one or two. This significantly increases the effectiveness of the combat work of front-line aviation and, as we see, contributes to the success of its joint operations with ground forces.
FAB-3000 Aviation bomb
Image source: Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
But to break into fortified areas like Avdeevsky, more effective ammunition of increased capacity was required — one and a half tons or more. Such bombs are produced by the industry in a different form factor - the M—54 is a less streamlined bomb with a head support ring and a cast body, which were created at one time for use from the internal compartments of heavy bombers.
In Soviet times, the carriers of the FAB-1500 and FAB-3000 were Tu-16, Tu-95, 3M, Tu-22 and Tu-22M bombers of different models. The lightest aircraft that could carry the FAB-1500 was the Yak-26 front—line jet bomber - it could take one munition. The modern Su-34 can carry three FAB-1500s, but given the effectiveness of using such heavy ammunition, it would have to make a large number of sorties. After all, the circular probable deviation of such bombs is more than 200 m.
Killer accuracy
And one more thing: the high-explosive effect of heavy bombs is huge, but with increasing distance from the point of impact, the lethality of the bomb decreases exponentially. According to the experience of combat use of the FAB-3000, the radius of continuous shock wave damage lethal to enemy personnel is at least 40 m, and the radius of damage with the incapacitation of personnel (contusions, wounds, etc.) is up to 160 m.
It is clear that if such a bomb is provided with an accuracy of at least 10 m, then it is possible to "change landscapes", destroying the intended targets. The experience of developing and using UMPC on 500 kg ammunition showed a record increase in combat effectiveness — the game was worth the candle. And the UMPC was created for the FAB-1500.
The fact that the shape of the bomb is not designed for high—speed flight was elegantly bypassed - a fairing was placed on it, which provided it with a steady flight at high speed over a distance of at least 60 km. And thus a relatively inexpensive and very effective powerful ammunition was obtained, the use of which played a huge role in the liberation of Avdiivka and not only. And as a result, the production of the FAB-1500 will be doubled in 2024.
Su-34 VKS fighter-bomber at the airfield in the area of the special operation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Mikhail Voskresensky
But that's not all. In 2024, by order of the Russian Ministry of Defense, production of FAB-3000 bombs of 3 tons caliber was resumed. With great probability, an UMPC kit is also being created for this munition, which will make the heaviest non-nuclear munition of the Russian Aerospace Forces a high-precision bomb, with which any buildings, protected headquarters and port infrastructure will be destroyed. Both front-line Su-34 and long-range Tu-22M3 can become carriers of heavy bombs. Moreover, the latter can carry two such ammunition in internal compartments. Well, there is practically no doubt that the UMPC for the FAB-3000 will be created.
Dmitry Kornev