In recent footage released by the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoDRF), a FAB-3000 bomb was seen being dropped from a Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-34 jet over an unidentified town in Ukraine. The bomb features a UMPK (Universalnyi Modul Planirovania I Korrekcii) guidance kit, similar to the American Joint Direct Attack Munition.
In March, the Ministry of Defence announced the commencement of mass production of the FAB-3000 for use in the ongoing conflict. The bomb measures 3.3 meters in length and 1 meter in diameter, capable of carrying a 1,400 kg warhead filled with Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and boasting a maximum strike range of up to 70 km.
However, Russian defence industry sources suggest that the actual maximum strike range of the FAB-3000 might be closer to 50-60 km due to its increased weight compared to earlier variants like the FAB-250 and 1500. The bomb has an effective destruction radius of 230 meters and an explosion radius of up to 1,200 meters.
Equipped with the UMPK guidance kit, the FAB-3000 achieves a ten-meter circular error probability (CEP), incorporating satellite navigation and an inertial measurement unit for precise targeting.
An RAF Su-34 pilot talked about the bomb’s effectiveness against Western air defence systems in a recent interview with Russia’s state-owned news agency TASS. “As for today, the adversary cannot down our bombs. Neither Patriot nor Gepard (air defence systems) can down glide bombs. They horrify them,” the pilot stated.
Research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in March 2024 noted that Russia employs glide bombs extensively, along with direct-attack munitions, to overwhelm Ukrainian air defence. The study also mentioned that the use of longer-range air-launched cruise missiles by the Russian Aerospace Forces remains sporadic, likely dependent on the availability of newly manufactured missiles.
In addition to the deployment of glide bombs, Russia is innovating with hoverboard technology to create battlefield robots. These four-wheeled robots, adapted from hoverboards, are used for kamikaze attacks, moving supplies, or deploying smokescreens. Hoverboards can carry up to 100 kilograms and travel 12 kilometres per hour for three hours on a single charge. This cost-effective solution, with hoverboards, is priced at around 150 euros each.
FBR Managing Director and CEO Mike Pivac expressed excitement about showcasing their technology in a new international market, stating, “We have set a clear strategy for the Company to enter the United States market, and we will be doing so with the assistance of one of the largest concrete block manufacturers in the country.”