(Dan Tri) – If the FAB-500 bomb becomes a nightmare for Ukrainian infantry, and the FAB-1500 is known as the devil, then the FAB-3000 could be a `game-changing weapon`, according to experts.
According to official information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the country’s defense industrial complex has begun assembling the new generation of heavy glide bombs FAB-3000 weighing up to 3 tons from February 2024.
Thus, the time this weapon was brought to the Ukrainian battlefield was only a matter of `day one or two`.
The FAB-3000 assembly line is operating day and night
According to information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the new FAB-3000 is being produced at enterprises of the military industrial complex in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
`The enterprise has increased production of FAB-500, doubled production of FAB-1500 and since February this year has organized mass production of FAB-3000,` a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
Most parts of the Russian defense industry now operate around the clock on a three-shift work schedule, recruiting more employees.
The FAB-3000, developed since the Soviet era, is one of the most powerful aviation weapons available today.
FAB-3000 bomb production line at a Russian factory (Photo: Russian Defense Ministry).
The FAB-3000 aviation bomb was put into use after the Great Patriotic War along with 100, 250, 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 9,000kg aviation bombs.
The Soviet army used heavy weapons in the Afghanistan war.
`The vehicle carrying the FAB-3000 and FAB-5000 is the Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bomber,` the Russian Ministry of Defense announced.
The Russian Aerospace Forces’ plan to use the FAB-3000 and FAB-5000M was first announced in September 2022 with a test of dropping a 5-ton glide bomb from an altitude of 15km to reach speed.
`Game-changing weapon`?
Military expert Vasily Dandykin noted to RIA Novosti news agency that glide bombs are being used very effectively and help limit damage to aircraft and pilots.
This military expert cited the opinion of American journalists that it was glide bombs that prevented Kiev’s counterattack last year.
Meanwhile, military expert Anatoly Matviychuk commented on the start of mass production of FAB-3000.
`If the FAB-500 becomes a nightmare for Ukrainian infantry, and the FAB-1500 is known as the devil, then the FAB-3000 will be the end of sight for Ukrainian soldiers. Nothing can stop it.`
Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber of the Russian Air Force (Photo: TASS).
Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Justin Bronk – senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute consulting organization in London (UK) told CNN television channel that Russia already possesses a huge arsenal of weapons,
According to Mr. Justin Bronk, glide bombs have helped Russia utilize its tactical air force more effectively.
Previously, former spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Mr. Yuri Ignat, when talking about the dangers of glide bombs, admitted: `Our air defense force is getting stronger, but it is still not enough. The goal of
When on duty, multi-purpose fighters Su-34 and Su-35 do not fly close to the target, but as for the glide bombs themselves, Ukraine basically has no means to stop them.
`If we had more long-range air defense forces, we would be able to shoot down these fighters at longer distances,` Mr. Yuri Ignat said.