Russians display formidable Su‑34 bomb run on Ukrainian positions

The Russians showcased a recording of the preparation and dropping from a Su-34 aircraft onto Ukrainian positions of the powerful FAB-3000 guided bomb. We present the performance of this deadly combination with its immense destructive power.

Many of the details provided by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the informational war waged by the Russian Federation.

The Russians showcased on television a recording of the preparation and execution of an attack on Ukrainians using the formidable FAB-3000 guided bomb carried by the tactical bomber Su-34. This confirms suspicions that these aircraft can carry such massive bombs.

The FAB-3000 bomb is a design dating back to World War II, which, after the application of additional modules heavily inspired by American JDAM-ER, has gained a "second life".

Thanks to the UMPK (Unified Planning and Correction Module) modules, this otherwise useless free-falling aviation bomb has become a potent weapon capable of destroying any field fortification or entire neighbourhood. Hence it is sometimes called the "city destroyer."

The bomb seen in the recording still glistening appears to be a model from a newly resumed production line. The Su-34 can also carry such a bomb on the central tower between the engines.

The FAB-3000 bomb is designed with a mass of three metric tonnes (over 6600 pounds), of which slightly more than half is comprised of an explosive charge surrounded by a thick cast steel casing, serving as a shrapnel generator during the explosion. According to the Russians, the fireball at the explosion had a diameter of 50 metres (164 feet), and the shockwave caused damage even several hundred metres (yards) away. Similar destructive power is attributed to fragments that can strike targets more than 1 kilometre (0.6 miles) away.

This means that even if the commercial satellite navigation module causes a miss of 30 metres (98 feet), there is still little left of the target. The UMPK modules also include unfoldable wings, which, in the case of a high-altitude drop, provide the bomb with a range of several dozen kilometres (miles), ensuring the dropping aircraft is out of range of most air defence systems.

The exceptions are medium-range solutions like S-300, Patriot, or SAMP/T, for which Ukraine has either run out of missiles or has too few batteries in stock. These systems can engage aircraft carrying bombs at a distance exceeding 100 kilometres (62 miles).

Combating FAB bomb carriers is the most effective way of defence because FAB bombs, due to their thick casing, are quite resistant to, for example, fragmentary warheads of anti-aircraft missiles. The only help here might be Gepard or Skynex loaded with anti-tank ammunition, though having minimal time to react.