Failed detonations mar russian high-speed bomb strikes on Kharkiv
At the end of June, the Russians attacked targets in Kharkiv using rare FAB-500T bombs that did not explode. We explain how this variant differs from standard FAB family aerial bombs.
In the airstrikes on Kharkiv during the last week of June 2024, the Russians used unique FAB-500T bombs designed for release from MiG-25 aircraft at high speeds.
According to the Defense Express portal, two bombs equipped with UMPK modules did not explode. They could have been refurbished old bombs from the 1960s/70s or newly produced units. Regardless of their origin, their detonators were faulty, which is common in new Russian weaponry.
FAB-500T aerial bombs - a variant intended for high-speed release
FAB-500T bombs are a particular variant of the FAB-500 bomb, designed to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase resistance to high temperatures resulting from air friction. The T variant is made to withstand temperatures at Mach 2.4 (3,000 km/h) and survive high-speed drop stresses.
Because of this, the bomb would fly along a ballistic curve instead of falling, resulting in a range of 30 to 40 km. Similarly, using the same high-speed drop tactics and equipping the bombs with UMPK (Unified Module Set for Planning and Correction) modules containing deployable wings, the flight range is twice as long due to gliding. The module, also thanks to the satellite and inertial navigation system, theoretically ensures the bomb hits the target accurately within a few or several metres.
FAB-500T bombs contain about 260 kg of TNT, slightly less than the 300 kg for standard FABs. However, this does not make much difference as an aerial bomb is still dozens of times more destructive than an artillery shell containing at most 10 kg of TNT for a 155 mm calibre.
Additionally, adapting bombs for high-speed release increases the chances of Russian pilots performing evasive manoeuvres if fired upon by Ukrainians. This is because, in the case of regular FAB bombs, the aircraft carrying them must fly at lower speeds and cannot perform manoeuvres at full range due to factors such as g-forces.
