According to official information from the Russian Ministry of Defense, the country's defense industry complex has begun assembling a new generation of heavy glide bombs FAB-3000 weighing up to 3 tons from February 2024.
Glider bomb production line is operating around the clock
The new heavy glide bomb is being produced at the enterprises of the military-industrial complex in the Nizhny Novgorod region, which was recently visited by Russian Defense Minister, General of the Army Sergei Shoigu. The Russian Defense Minister inspected the production lines of bombs, as well as artillery and tank shells of various calibers.
“The enterprise has repeatedly increased production of FAB-500 air bombs, doubled the output of FAB-1500 and since February this year has organized mass production of FAB-3000,” the statement of the Russian Defense Ministry said.
According to General Sergey Shoigu, the list of manufactured artillery shells has also been expanded, and the production volume of artillery and modern aviation weapons has increased fivefold compared to 2023. The Russian Defense Ministry emphasized that this result was achieved thanks to the reactivation of production facilities and the modernization of production lines with modern equipment and the tireless efforts of workers.
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| The FAB-3000 bomb assembly line is operating at full capacity. Photo: Rian |
According to the Defense Ministry, a lot of work has been carried out at the plant in the Nizhny Novgorod region to rebuild and modernize production facilities. In total, after the relevant measures were completed, more than 45,000 m2 of workshop space was quickly deployed.
Most parts of the Russian defense industry now operate around the clock on a three-shift schedule. Over two years, 1,100 more workers have been hired. The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that during this period, the plant increased allowances and salaries, changed the bonus system. As a result, workers' wages increased by an average of 20%.
FAB-3000 – a weapon that changes the battlefield?
The FAB-3000 is a high-explosive flying bomb developed during the Soviet era and is one of the most powerful aircraft weapons today. The FAB-3000 is designed to destroy a wide range of structures, shelters (including concrete) and fortified industrial facilities. The bomb weighs about 3 tons and contains up to 1,400 kg of high explosives. When dropped from an altitude of 12 km, the FAB-3000 bomb can reach a flight speed of up to 1,200 km/h.
The FAB-3000 high-explosive bomb was put into service after the Great Patriotic War along with the 100, 250, 500, 1,500, 5,000 and 9,000 kg aviation bombs. At that time, large-caliber superbombs were mainly used against large naval vessels, but the FAB-1500 was also used to destroy industrial facilities, dams and underground structures. The Soviet army used heavy aviation bombs in the Afghanistan war. The FAB-3000's lethal radius and shock wave destroyed any living thing within a range of 158m.
“ When the FAB-3000M exploded, the completely destroyed structures remained within a circle with a diameter of about 35 meters. The FAB-3000 and FAB-5000 transport aircraft were Tu-22M3 long-range bombers,” the Russian Defense Ministry announced.
The Russian Aerospace Forces' plans to use the FAB-3000 and FAB-5000M aviation bombs were first announced in September 2022 with a test dropping a 5-ton glide bomb from an altitude of 15km to reach a speed of up to 1,200km/h. The FAB-5000M glide bomb targets hardened targets both on the ground and in underground bunkers.
Military expert, Captain of the Reserve Service Vasily Dandykin noted that glide bombs are now being used very effectively and help to limit losses of aircraft and pilots. The military expert cited the opinion of American journalists that it was glide bombs that prevented a successful counterattack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). The West believes that Ukraine is poorly equipped to counter Russian glide bombs.
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| Russian defense industry productivity has increased fivefold compared to 2023. Photo: Russian Defense Ministry |
Meanwhile, military expert Anatoly Matviychuk commented on the start of mass production of the FAB-3000. He particularly emphasized the power of the Russian aviation bomb and the possible consequences of its use on the Ukrainian battlefield. According to him, the FAB-3000 could be the end of the AFU infantry.
“If the FAB-500 bomb became a nightmare for Ukrainian infantry, and the FAB-1500 was called a devil, then the FAB-3000 will be the end of Ukrainian soldiers in its sights. Nothing can stop this weapon,” expert Anatoly Matviychuk assessed.
The 3-ton bomb has a powerful explosion that can flatten any obstacle, even underground concrete structures.
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