FAB-1500 - new improved guided bomb from the Soviet era
Russian military bloggers have been talking about the FAB-1500 since last September, when the bomb's accuracy was still being tested. Fighterbomber, a group close to the Russian military, noted that after months of trial and error, for the first time, a FAB-1500 had accurately hit a combat target.
Thanks to the support of the newly added wing system combined with the positioning system, the guided bomb FAB-1500 has the ability to increase the range and high accuracy. Almost half of the 1.5 ton mass of the FAB-1500 is high explosive. The bomb is launched by fighter jets from an altitude of about 60 - 70 km, beyond the range of most Ukrainian air defense forces.
A guided bomb with a wing system underneath a Su-34. Photo: Russian Air Force
Russia is using the FAB-1500 as a tool to flatten Ukraine’s defenses. According to Joseph Trevithick, who writes about the bomb’s development for TheWarZone, the bombs provide a new, devastating long-range strike option for many Russian tactical jets, while also keeping pilots away from enemy defenses.
Recent videos from the front lines in the Donetsk region have shown the immense power of FAB-1500 bombs as they hit factories and towers - places that Ukrainian troops coordinated to defend.
A soldier from Ukraine's 46th Airborne Brigade said Russian forces have been attacking the frontline town of Krasnohorivka in Donetsk more aggressively and have started using air force equipment, especially FAB-1500 bombs. These bombs put a huge pressure on the morale of Ukrainian soldiers.
According to this soldier, the level of damage caused by FAB-1500 is very serious. Ukrainian soldiers are more or less used to FAB-500, but FAB-1500 is too terrible for them and not everyone can stand it.
The use of FAB bombs has become a key element in the Russian offensive in the Donetsk region, particularly in flattening Ukrainian defenses around Avdiivka, which fell in February.
"Before and during the battle for Avdiivka, Russia launched hundreds of bombs in just a few days. In just 48 hours, up to 250 of them were launched in the direction of Avdiivka," said Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yury Ihnat.
Low cost thanks to huge supply
During the Soviet era, the FAB-1500 was the most powerful of the "dumb bombs" (unguided bombs). At a factory of Russia's Tactical Missile Corporation (KTRV) near Moscow, this bomb is being converted into a low-cost but high-explosive missile version.
Inside a building damaged by shelling in Donetsk. Photo: AFP
Senior researcher Justin Bronk at the Royal United Services Institute in London (UK) said that although Russia had difficulty producing wings for the FAB-1500, in return they had the advantage of possessing a large number of basic explosives, creating a powerful source of firepower that increased casualties for Ukraine.
According to Mr. Bronk, the cost of producing the FAB-1500 is much lower than the millions of dollars spent on a missile. "Compared to a missile, the bomb costs only a penny," he commented.
Last January, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu toured the plant, where wing systems are being developed for the FAB-1500 bomb. KTRV said the old free-fall bombs have been modified into guided bombs that can glide to their targets.
According to Mr. Bronk, Russia's development of new guided bombs has given the country's tactical air force more advantages on the battlefield. The plant director proudly reported to Mr. Shoigu that production capacity of new guided bombs has increased by 40% due to the factory switching to 24/7 operation.
Deadlock for Ukraine's air defense forces
Bronk noted that the modified FAB can only be used against fixed targets. But this drawback does not seem to be a disadvantage to the Russians, who generally know the main Ukrainian defensive positions on the eastern front.
But Russian planes launching FAB-1500s are not invulnerable. In recent weeks, the Ukrainian air force has claimed to have shot down several Su-34 fighters. But with the planes some 70 kilometers away, most Ukrainian air defenses do not have the range to shoot them down.
"Our air defenses are getting stronger, but they are still not enough. Russia's goal is not only to hit frontline positions. Their guided bombs fly further behind the defenders to hit ammunition facilities and logistics command posts," spokesman Ihnat said.
With the FAB-1500 bomb on the battlefield, Russian Su-35 and Su-34 attack bombers will no longer need to approach their targets so close, Ihnat said. "However, if we have more long-range air defenses, we will be able to take out these jets at a greater distance from the front line," Ihnat added.
Final bomb check before Su-34 fighter bomber takes off on March 8. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
Meanwhile, Mr. Bronk said that the US Patriot system is almost the only defense force with enough range to counter the FAB-1500. However, the Ukrainian army only has a limited number of Patriots. Moreover, the missiles that Patriot uses are in short supply because the US Congress has delayed additional military aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials are asking almost daily for longer-range air defense weapons to counter Russian air power. In addition, the F-16 fighter jets that Ukrainian pilots are currently training on are unlikely to be able to fly over Ukraine until the second half of this year.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces on the front line, especially in Donetsk, face blitzkrieg Russian airstrikes, sometimes numbering more than 100 a day, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.
Similar to the heavy artillery fire that destroyed Ukrainian positions in the past, Russian forces are now using an endless supply of heavy guided bombs to neutralize Ukrainian defenses.
Hoai Phuong (according to CNN)
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