Ukraine enhances drone arsenal with powerful bomb upgrades
Ukrainians use more than just small kamikaze drones for attacks on targets in the Russian Federation. They also have much more powerful machines in their arsenal, specifically small airplanes converted into unmanned aircraft, which can carry bombs weighing up to 250 kilograms, according to the Ukrainian portal Defense Express.
Ukrainian combat drones, as reported by Defense Express, are capable of carrying and dropping bombs weighing 250 kilograms. These capabilities of the Ukrainians are confirmed by recent attacks on facilities in the Bryansk region of Russia. Photos published by Ukrainian sources show an FAB-250M-54 bomb and a 120 mm mortar shell, both suspended under a mysterious drone.
New capabilities of Ukrainian drones
Although the type of drone wasn't revealed, it's no surprise to Russia. Ukraine has long used drones with full-sized bombs for attacks. In April 2024, the Russians published photos of a lightweight SkyRanger aircraft in the Swift version, converted into a combat drone with a similar bomb.
A significant advantage of these designs is the fact that these drones are reusable. This means that after dropping a bomb, they return to the base, where they are prepared for subsequent missions. They are not as limited as kamikaze drones. One of the large drones displayed markings for four hit targets, according to the report. Defense Express adds that an optical sighting station is responsible for the precision of attacks in these constructions.
Increased strike power
Earlier photos showed drones equipped with FAB-100 bombs, but now Ukrainians have adapted their equipment to carry much more powerful FAB-250 bombs. This may mean that the drones are based on more advanced aircraft or that the SkyRanger Swift has greater capabilities than previously thought.
The aforementioned FAB-250 bomb in the M-54 variant is a model from 1954, in which the manufacturer ensured a strengthened structure. The weight of such a weapon is 250 kilograms, and its length reaches nearly 2 metres with a diameter of about 0.3 metres. The bomb is unguided and has a single nose fuze. Upon impact, it is capable of neutralizing enemy personnel, armored equipment, and light fortifications. The radius of the FAB-250 is estimated at 120 metres.
