Russian aerial bombs with a high-explosive warhead (FAB), equipped with a unified planning and correction module (UMPC), "don't let NATO weapons developers sleep at night." As a result, the alliance announced a competition to create counter-planning bombs. This was written by military expert Brandon J. Weichert for The National Interest publication.
Unlike cruise missiles and hypersonic missile systems, glide bombs are "dumb" bombs. They were supplemented with primitive guidance systems, making them deadly.
With the help of FAB, aircraft can hit a target without entering the range of the enemy's air defense system. Now the Russian Armed Forces are using FAB-500, FAB-1500, equipped with UMPC.
NATO wants to create systems that can intercept and destroy the FAB before it hits the target.
About FAB-500
The Russian Aerospace Forces use Soviet 500-kilogram aerial bombs with a high-explosive warhead. The original M-54 model appeared in 1954.
FAB-500 characteristics:
- Descent height: 570 — 12 000 m
- Release speed: 500 — 1 900 km/h
Read also on the topic:
KB "MiS" presented an improved drone "MiS-50"
ICE, TRD, rocket booster: expert suggested a way to increase the range of FAB with UMPC