The Russian Air Force has deployed its latest heavy ordnance, the 3.3-ton FAB-3000 glide bomb, for the first time in combat operations.
On Thursday, a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber launched a single FAB-3000 bomb at a multi-story building in Lyptsi, approximately 10 miles north of Kharkiv. The bomb, equipped with pop-out wings and satellite guidance, targeted what Russian intelligence identified as a staging base for Ukrainian troops. Despite missing its target by a short distance, the bomb caused extensive damage. The explosion left a significant portion of the building in ruins, with shattered windows and scattered rubble, illustrating the bomb’s considerable blast radius of over 200 yards and lethal fragmentation range extending beyond 1,200 yards.
Today, a russian glide bomb struck Kharkiv near an apartment building situated right in front of the busiest bus station. There is no military presence in there—just ordinary people going about their day.
According to the latest data, at least 3 people have been killed, and a… pic.twitter.com/pUkp4gKAWb
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) June 22, 2024
A subsequent attack occurred on Saturday when another Su-34 dropped a similar bomb on a different structure in Kharkiv, leading to further destruction and casualties. The assault killed three people and injured 52 others, including three children. Four of the injured remain in serious condition. The bombings also damaged residential buildings, shops, and public transport stops, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region.
A police officer’s bodycam captured the harrowing moment a russian glide bomb struck Kharkiv yesterday, along with the immediate aftermath. Witness the stark reality of this terrorist attack against civilians. pic.twitter.com/7lv7TMqbfG
— Iryna Voichuk (@IrynaVoichuk) June 23, 2024
The FAB-3000, although powerful, reveals significant inefficiencies. Experts from Fighterbomber, a prominent Russian military analysis channel on Telegram, noted that the bomb’s large size and weight limit its aerodynamic efficiency and range compared to smaller munitions like the FAB-1500. The precision of the strikes was also questioned, as missing targets by approximately 30 feet was deemed “an excellent result,” yet the overall impact was less effective than deploying multiple smaller bombs.
In a retaliatory move, Ukrainian forces conducted drone and missile attacks on Russian-controlled Crimea and the Belgorod region, resulting in casualties and injuries.Â
Despite the introduction of advanced weapons like the FAB-3000, their effectiveness may be short-lived. Ukrainian forces have enhanced their electronic warfare capabilities, deploying jammers to disrupt the satellite guidance systems of Russian bombs, thereby reducing their accuracy.
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