Russian glide bombs were credited with helping turn the war in Ukraine in Russia’s favor during the battle of Avdiivka. Now Moscow said it’s ramping up production of the munitions.
Glide bombs are made up primarily of two things: the bomb and the glide kit. Russia previously produced the Drel, a glide bomb that also uses cluster munition. However, for the bomb component, Russia typically uses devices from the “fugasnaya aviatsionnaya bomba” (FAB) family, which is Russian for aerial demolition bomb.
The glide kit, or unified gliding and correction module (UMPK), is essentially a set of wings that can attach onto the bomb. The UMPK also has a guidance system to help the bomb stay on course, substantially increasing the FAB’s accuracy and effective range.
Russian Su-34 and Su-35 bombers can carry two FAB-1500s at a time, and did so dozens of times while taking Avdiika. That tactic left the town in ruins. Ukrainian soldiers described the FAB-1500 bombings as “hell.”
Because of the UMPKs, Russian aircraft can launch the glide bombs 25 miles away from the target. That is outside the range of most of Ukraine’s air defense batteries.
To target the threat, Ukraine moved some of its anti-aircraft weaponry closer to the front lines. That helped Ukraine shoot down more Russian jets in January and February, but it also led to the loss of multiple missile systems.
Ukraine is running low on interceptors for UMPKs. If there are no F-16s around to ward off enemy aircraft, Russia sees the use of glide bombs as a way to alter the course of the war.
However, to keep these attacks going, Russia needs to keep up its supply of FABs. The Russian Ministry of Defence said it has plans for “a large increase to FAB-500 production.” The ministry also said it’s also doubling the output of FAB-1500 as well, and plans on bringing the FAB-3000 back into production.
The numbers in the bomb’s name indicate its size. The FAB-500 weights 500 kilograms, the 1500 weighs 1,500 kilograms and so on.
The increased size comes with increased destructive capacity. An FAB-500 has a damage radius of around 250 meters. The 1,500 ups that to around 500 meters. The FAB-3000 reportedly has enough explosive material to wipe out anything within 900 meters.
Russia is increasing the use of FAB-500 and FAB-1500 variants as glide bombs, which explains why they are increasing production. However, Russia only has one plane that can carry the FAB-3000, the Tu-22m strategic bomber, and the country has lost several of them over the course of the war. Using those planes to launch a FAB-3000 — even with a glide kit — puts the aircraft at risk.
The facilities producing the FAB munitions are prime targets for Ukraine since the country doesn’t have many other defenses against those weapons now. That could change once Ukraine gets its F-16 planes in the air.
The F-16 fighter jets — originally produced in the U.S. — can be armed with long-range missiles, and will amplify Ukraine’s ability to fend off Russian aircraft. Ukraine should have F-16s in the air sometime this summer.