| | During the [[Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine]] in 2020s, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation converted thousands of conventional 500kg, 1000kg, and 1500kg gravity bombs from an enormous stockpile built up since the 1960s, with a "glide kit", attaching wings that unfold after being dropped and adding a precision guidance system in a nose kit.<ref>[https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/8831623.html Evolution of UMPK], colonelcassad. December 16, 2023. colonelcassad.livejournal.com</ref> The Russian modified glide bombs have an advantage over [[Western alliance|Western]] [[cruise missile]]s, in that none of its weight is wasted on carrying an expensive engine and fuel, they carry a very large warhead, and are relatively cheap in comparison to Western cruise missiles. They have been called the Russian counterpart of the US JDAM, only much less expensive.<ref>https://westobserver.com/news/europe/russian-glide-bomb-compared-to-american-jdam/</ref> | | During the [[Special Military Operation on the territory of Ukraine]] in 2020s, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation converted thousands of conventional 500kg, 1000kg, and 1500kg gravity bombs from an enormous stockpile built up since the 1960s, with a "glide kit", attaching wings that unfold after being dropped and adding a precision guidance system in a nose kit.<ref>[https://colonelcassad.livejournal.com/8831623.html Evolution of UMPK], colonelcassad. December 16, 2023. colonelcassad.livejournal.com</ref> The Russian modified glide bombs have an advantage over [[Western alliance|Western]] [[cruise missile]]s, in that none of its weight is wasted on carrying an expensive engine and fuel, they carry a very large warhead, and are relatively cheap in comparison to Western cruise missiles. They have been called the Russian counterpart of the US JDAM, only much less expensive.<ref>https://westobserver.com/news/europe/russian-glide-bomb-compared-to-american-jdam/</ref> |
| | + | The arsenal consists of 50 kg FAB-50 to the FAB-500, the FAB-2000, FAB-3000, FAB-5000, and the monstrous FAB-9000, which features a conventional explosive charge of about 4,300 kg of [[TNT]] – about half the blast yield caused by the W54 – the world’s smallest tactical [[nuclear bomb]]. |
| | Russian glide bombs such as the FAB 500 can travel up to 60 miles, can be fired from behind Russian defensives lines, while the aircraft delivery vehicle is not exposed to enemy air defense systems.<ref>https://kyivindependent.com/russias-smart-bombs-pose-increasingly-serious-threat-to-ukraine/</ref> | | Russian glide bombs such as the FAB 500 can travel up to 60 miles, can be fired from behind Russian defensives lines, while the aircraft delivery vehicle is not exposed to enemy air defense systems.<ref>https://kyivindependent.com/russias-smart-bombs-pose-increasingly-serious-threat-to-ukraine/</ref> |
| − | The arsenal consists of 50 kg FAB-50 to the FAB-500, the FAB-2000, FAB-3000, FAB-5000, and the monstrous FAB-9000, which features a conventional explosive charge of about 4,300 kg of [[TNT]] – about half the blast yield caused by the W54 – the world’s smallest tactical [[nuclear bomb]].
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| | Various versions of the Russian glide bomb were used to devastating effect in the [[NATO war in Ukraine]].<ref>[https://bmanalysis.substack.com/p/renaissance-of-the-bomb-gliding-fabs Renaissance of the Bomb - Gliding FABs] Russian Glide Bombs - a true menace, MIKE MIHAJLOVIC, MAR 10, 2024. bmanalysis.substack.com</ref> | | Various versions of the Russian glide bomb were used to devastating effect in the [[NATO war in Ukraine]].<ref>[https://bmanalysis.substack.com/p/renaissance-of-the-bomb-gliding-fabs Renaissance of the Bomb - Gliding FABs] Russian Glide Bombs - a true menace, MIKE MIHAJLOVIC, MAR 10, 2024. bmanalysis.substack.com</ref> |