The Russian military, for the first time, used a FAB-3000 M-54 guided bomb against Ukrainian positions in the Kharkiv Region, according to social media sharing. A video uploaded on the Russian Fighterbomber Telegram channel on June 20, 2024, states, “A 3-story building used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a temporary deployment point was chosen as the first combat target.” The channels state that this was the first use of UMPK large-calibre bombs in combat in human history. The FAB-3000 is a Soviet-era high-explosive aerial bomb weighing 3,000 kg (3 tons) and remains one of the largest conventional bombs in the Russian military arsenal. The FAB-3000 M 54 has recently been upgraded with a modern guidance system with the addition of the UMPK (Universal Modular Planning Kit).
This kit converts the FAB-3000 from a conventional free-fall bomb to a guided munition. It combines advanced GPS and inertial navigation systems, enabling precise targeting.
The UMPK equipment also extends the bomb’s effective range, allowing it to be guided up to 80 km (about 50 miles) from the point of release by its carrier aircraft.
The warhead itself weighs 1.4 tons, designed to provide maximum destructive impact on fortified targets.
The FAB-3000 can only be deployed by certain aircraft, such as modified MiG-31s. However, the only aircraft capable of carrying it is the Tu-22M3, which is two units per flight.
Russia announced an increase in the production of FAB-3000 in February 2024.
