Russia’s New 3.3-Ton Glide Bomb Poses Damaging Menace to Ukraine

Though the bombing itself seems to have been inaccurate, the FAB-3000 M-54’s harmful functionality is such that even munitions that don’t hit their particular targets might be lethal due to their larger destruction radius. The truth that this can be a glide bomb and it may be launched exterior the vary of Ukrainian air defenses makes the munition much more harmful.

“Russian forces used the brand new FAB-3000 M-54 bomb with a unified planning and correction module (UMPC) to strike Ukrainian positions in Kharkiv Oblast for the primary time, representing a brand new Russian functionality with a excessive potential for destruction if Russian forces proceed to have the ability to use such weapons uninhibited,” the Institute for the Examine of Conflict assessed in a latest operational replace on the struggle.

Ukrainian Air Power officers, nevertheless, famous that they could not present a last estimate on the precise kind of munition utilized by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

The FAB-3000 M-54 is a standard, or “dumb,” bomb that may be transformed right into a glide munition with the addition of the UMPC.

In March, Russian officers first introduced the mass manufacturing of FAB-3000 M-54 munitions. Beforehand, the Russian army had hassle attaching the heavy munition, which weighs virtually 7,000 lbs, to tactical plane. Nonetheless, Russian technicians appear to have discovered an answer.

“The truth that Russian forces have found out the best way to launch FAB-3000s is a big growth and can improve the harmful potential of Russia’s ongoing glide bomb assaults in opposition to Ukrainian forces and infrastructure,” the Institute for the Examine of Conflict added.

Because the battle continues, the Russian Aerospace Forces have more and more been counting on guided and unguided glide bombs to hit Ukrainian targets. These munitions are launched from lengthy distances and journey or glide to their targets whereas the plane launching them is safely away.

“Russian forces have already elevated guided and unguided glide bomb use in opposition to Ukraine, significantly in Kharkiv Oblast, to devastating impact, and may Russian forces have the ability to launch huge barrages of FAB-3000s (and even heavier guided glide bombs), they may have the ability to trigger much more widespread harm to Ukrainian frontline positions and demanding infrastructure,” the Institute for the Examine of Conflict acknowledged.

The efficiency of the Russian Aerospace Forces

The Russian Aerospace Forces have largely failed within the battle to this point. In relation to air superiority, though extra quite a few and with higher high quality, Russian plane haven’t established management over the skies. Ukrainian pilots have been placing out a stalwart resistance, and there are additionally too many antiaircraft methods of all ranges on the battlefield.

In relation to strategic strikes, they’ve faired solely barely higher. Counting on a mix of stand-off and glide munitions, Russian plane have been concentrating on Ukrainian important infrastructure and concrete facilities.

Nonetheless, the questionable high quality of those munitions, together with the highly effective — however depleting — Ukrainian air defenses, have largely ensured that these strikes have not been as consequential to the course of the struggle because the Kremlin would need.

Lastly, when it comes to shut air assist, the Russian Aerospace Forces have executed higher however their efficiency continues to be removed from altering the battlefield.

Utilizing fixed- and rotaty-winged assault plane, the Russian army has been in a position to acquire tactical superiority throughout some occasions and in particular areas of the contact line. However past inflicting some further casualties to the Ukrainian forces, Russian tactical aviation hasn’t made a distinction.

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