$20,000 for a FAB-500 vs. $5 Million for an Kh-101: TNI Analyst Explains the Advantage of Soviet Aviation Bombs

Military Expert Weichert: A Munition with a High-Explosive Warhead is Cheap and Deadly

Russia equips thousands of FAB-500 (high-explosive bomb) aerial bombs with universal planning and correction modules (UMPC) per month. The munitions, which are many times cheaper than Kh-101 missiles, are launched from Su-34 fighter-bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces. This is written by military expert Brandon J. Weichert in an article for The National Interest.

FAB-500s with UMPC allow for precise strikes on enemy positions. The Su-34 can carry four such aerial bombs and drop them from a height of up to 10,000 m.
Brandon J. Weichert, military expert

According to Weichert, the Soviet gliding munition is "cheap and deadly." Its charge in TNT equivalent exceeds 200 kg, which causes large-scale destruction on the ground.

The FAB-500 began to be equipped with UMPC in 2023. It consists of folding wings, two tail ailerons, and a GLONASS navigation module.

Su-34 pilots operate in pairs or in groups, dropping gliding aerial bombs. Every day, they can use up to 100 FAB-500s with a range of up to 90 km.
Brandon J. Weichert, military expert

The expert stated that one such munition costs less than $20,000. For comparison, the cost of an Kh-101 missile is more than $5 million. Therefore, the Russian Aerospace Forces are betting on the FAB-500.

Read more on the topic:

Su-34 Pilots Showed the Dropping of FAB-500 Aerial Bombs with UMPC on Video for the First Time

"Orlan-10" Reconnaissance Aircraft Corrected the Strike of Two FAB-500s: Combat Footage

Incredible Footage of the Arrival of a FAB-500 Bomb: Diameter – 8 Meters, Depth – 3 Meters

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