The Russian Ministry of Defence announced in March that Russia had started mass production of three-tonne FAB-3000 high-explosive aviation bombs.
“[Russian Defense Minister] Sergei Shoigu was informed that the production of FAB-500 aerial bombs has been multiplied at the enterprise, the production of FAB-1500 has been doubled, and since this February this year, mass production of FAB-3000 has been organized,” the ministry said in a statement.
FAB is a Russian acronym for “High-Explosive Aviation Bomb”
The announcement attracted a lot of skepticism, even derision.; not just from Ukrainian military bloggers but also from Russian.
It was clear that the FAB-3000 bombs would be used with UMPC (Universal Module for Planning & Correction) glide kits.
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It was believed that the inertia of the heavy bomb and the high speed before impact would not allow the UMPC kit to steer the bomb accurately onto the target.
Russia’s FighterBomber TC, for example, pointed out that the relative inaccuracy of the FAB-3000 UMPC would negate the higher destructive power of its warhead. “A single FAB-3000 falling 20 m from the bridge will cause the same damage as a FAB-500.”
(The FAB-500 features a 200 kg warhead, the FAB-3000, 1,400 kg!)
Blogger Scepticism Proves Overly Pessimistic
Videos of the initial strikes by RuAF using the FAB-3000 with UMPC appeared to corroborate some of the fears of the Russian bloggers. At least two videos posted online showed the bomb missed the target by small but significant margins.
Videos of FAB-1500 and lighter FAB bombs fitted with UMPC kits had not revealed such inaccuracies. Lately, online videos of FAB-3000 strikes have shown improved accuracy. Also, the number of videos being posted suggests widespread use of the bomb.
On July 8, the Military Informant Telegram Channel reported that Russian specialists had corrected the problems that surfaced following the operational deployment of the FAB-3000 UMPC aerial bombs.
Russian engineers have new UMPC kits for the FAB-3000, featuring larger rudders and more powerful actuators for control surfaces.
On July 14, RuMoD released a video of the FAB-3000 with a UMPC kit mounted on a pylon under the fuselage of a Su-34. The video, which was highly likely captured by a chase aircraft, showed the FAB-300 UMPC being released from the aircraft at high altitude. Following the release, the bomb rolled over and deployed its wing and other aerodynamic surfaces. It was then seen flying in a rock-steady glide.
Russia has begun using Su-34 Fullback to launch FAB-3000 glide bombs, with a Su-34 bomber pilot asserting that Western air defense systems are defenseless against these new munitions.
On July 14, the Ministry unveiled video footage depicting the FAB-3000 bomb, a 3,000-kilogram… pic.twitter.com/mNFNYX1Ruv
— EurAsian Times (@THEEURASIATIMES) July 16, 2024
FAB-3000 UMPC Accuracy
On July 15, TASS, quoting a RuAF Su-34 pilot, reported that the FAB-3000 UMPC features an impressive CEP of 10 m.
The pilot told the Rossiya-1 channel, “UMPK has given a second life to such archaic munitions as the FAB-3000 and any free-falling bombs. Due to simple solutions, [the module] does not have complex technologies; it is often assembled quickly by engineers of the technical staff, [while] high accuracy is achieved <…> The mass of TNT, an explosive substance, in the bomb is 1,400 kg, and this amount leaves all competitors behind. The calculated accuracy of the FAB-3000 bomb in the version with UMPK is 10 m.”
Significant Range Improvement
Sputnik reported on July 16 that Russian specialists are working on increasing the range of the FAB-3000 UMPC bombs.
The range of the bomb is currently reported to be between 50 to 60 km.
In a statement, Russian state corporation Rostec said, “The three-ton aerial bomb with a universal planning and correction module (UPMC) developed by Tactical Missiles Corporation has become an even more formidable weapon. It combines powerful destructive force with high accuracy. Currently, work is underway on an improved version of the modules, which will significantly increase the range of the munitions.”
The claim that the upgrade will “significantly increase the range of the munitions” is important, even sensational.
There are several possible ways of increasing the range of a “glide” bomb.
You can increase release height or release speed. Both tweaks will give you only a marginal increase in range. More importantly, the tweaks will reduce the operational versatility of bomb release.
It’s theoretically possible to increase glide range through the use of bigger or more efficient aerodynamic surfaces. Once again, the increase would be marginal.
Powered Flight?
Integrating a small turbofan engine with the glide kit would be the logical approach to obtaining a significant increase in range.
Such a modification would not be technically challenging. Yet it would increase the range of a very powerful bomb by a hundred or more kilometers. Depending on the efficiency of the turbofan, the bomb could glide to a range of more than 200 km.
There would be a downside, however. The use of a turbofan would increase the bomb’s IR signature, making it slightly more susceptible to interception. A small rocket motor, instead of a turbofan, could be fitted to boost the bomb to a higher height and speed before dropping off.
Conclusion
Glide bombs have proven to be the bane of Ukrainian forces. However, when Russia decided to fit a glide kit on the FAB-3000, the move drew skepticism.
At this point in time, it’s not known how the Russians intend to “significantly” increase the range of the FAB-3000 UMPC.
They could fit a small turbofan or rocket motor on the glide kit to achieve a range well in excess of 100 km, possibly in excess of 200 km.
The improved accuracy of the FAB-3000 UMPC is bad news for Ukrainian forces. A significantly longer range would make matters worse.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.
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