Soviet Union and Russian Federation developed a range of aerial bombs for use on its aircraft.
The name of the bomb consists of the type of bomb (FAB-250M-46), its caliber in kilograms (FAB-250M-46), model by year of adoption (FAB-250M-46 - model 1946) and additionally (not always) an indication of its mass - if it differs significantly from the caliber (OFAB-250-270, FAB-1500-2600TS) and/or the design feature of the bomb or its production technology (FAB-500T - heat-resistant (термостойкая; termostoykaya), FAB-1500-2600TS - thick-walled (толстостенная; tolstostennaya), FAB-100sch - steel cast iron (сталистый чугун; stalistyy chugun), FAB-1000sl - steel casting (стальное литьё; stal'noye lit'yo), or for commercial purposes (KAB-500S-E - export).
"AB" (АБ) in FAB stands for "aerial bomb" (авиационная бомба)
High-explosive aerial bombs (FAB) are aerial bombs whose main destructive effect is the effect of an explosion. They have the most powerful and versatile lethal effect among main-purpose aerial bombs. The mass of the explosive in the bomb is approximately 50% of its weight, and the bomb also has a relatively strong body for penetration into the ground or into obstacles such as the floors of buildings and structures. [1]
Main destructive forces:
Primary targets:
Modern general-purpose FABs weigh 250 kg or more. They can have several forms: [1]
High explosive | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbreviation | Image | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Bomb mass (kg) | Explosive mass (kg) | Notes |
ФАБ-50ЦК | 219 | 936 | 60 | 25 | Solid forged | |
ФАБ-100 | ![]() | 267 | 964 | 100 | 70 (together with warhead) | |
ФАБ-250 | ![]() | 285 | 1589 | 250 | 99 | |
ФАБ-250-М54 | 325 | 1795 | 268 | 97 | [2] | |
ФАБ-250-М62 | ![]() | 300 | 1924 | 227 | 100 | [2] |
ФАБ-250ТС | 300 | 1500 | 256 | 61,4 | [2] Thick-walled, Armor penetration 1 m | |
ФАБ-250ШЛ | 325 | 1965 | 266 | 137 | Assault, surface explosion | |
ФАБ-500 | ![]() | 392 | 2142 | 500 | 213 | |
ФАБ-500Т | 400 | 2425 | 477 | 191 | [2] Heat resistant | |
ФАБ-500-M54 | ![]() | 450 | 1790 | 528 | 201 | [2] |
ФАБ-500-M62 | 400 | 2425 | 500 | 200 | [2] | |
ФАБ-500ШН | 450 | 2190 | 513 | 221 | [2] Assault, Low-altitude | |
ФАБ-500ШЛ | 450 | 2220 | 515 | 221 | [2] Assault, surface explosion | |
ФАБ-1000 | - | - | - | - | ||
ФАБ-1500 | 580 | 3000 | 1400 | 1200 (with warhead) | ||
ФАБ-1500Т | ![]() | - | - | 1488 | 870 | [3] Heat resistant |
ФАБ-1500-2500ТС | ![]() | - | - | 2151 | 436 | [3] Thick-walled, armor penetration 2500 mm |
ФАБ-1500-М54 | ![]() | - | - | 1550 | 675,6 | [3] |
ФАБ-2000 | - | - | - | - | ||
ФАБ-3000 | - | - | 3067 | 1387 | [4] | |
ФАБ-3000-М46 | - | - | 3000 | 1400 | ||
ФАБ-3000-М54 | ![]() | - | - | 3067 | 1200 | [3] |
ФАБ-5000 | ![]() | 642 | 3107 | 4900 | 2207 | |
ФАБ-5000-М54 | ![]() | - | - | 5247 | 2210,6 | [3] |
ФАБ-9000-М54 | ![]() | 1200 | 5050 | 9407 | 4297 | [3] |
OFAB - a high-explosive fragmentation bomb is a regular high-explosive bomb, but with a lower explosive filling of about 30-35%, and special means of organized crushing of the body, such as a sawtooth inner side of the body or a system of longitudinal and transverse grooves (although on outdated models they might not have been installed). [1]
Primary targets:
High-explosive fragmentation | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbreviation | Image | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Bomb mass (kg) | Explosive mass (kg) | Notes |
ОФАБ-100-120 | ![]() | 273 | 1300 | 133 | 42 | [2] |
ОФАБ-250Т | 300 | 2050 | 239 | 92 | [2] Heat resistant | |
ОФАБ-250ШЛ | 325 | 1991 | 266 | 92 | [2] Assault, surface explosion | |
ОФАБ-250-270 | ![]() | 325 | 1456 | 266 | 97 | [2] |
ОФАБ-250ШН | 325 | 1966 | 268 | 93 | [2] Assault, Low-altitude | |
ОФАБ-500У | 400 | 2300 | 515 | 159 | [2] Universal | |
ОФАБ-500ШР | 450 | 2500 | 509 | 125 | [2] Assault, with multiple warheads |
BetAB - a concrete-piercing aerial bomb. Designed for effective destruction of reinforced concrete shelters and runways. Structurally, they are divided into two types:
PLAB - anti-submarine bomb. Designed to destroy submarines. May have different designs. Large-caliber bombs usually have a non-contact (hydroacoustic, barometric, remote, or more often combined) fuse, and hit the target with a high-explosive effect (hydrodynamic shock) at a distance. A low-power nuclear charge is well suited for them (as an example, the domestic PLAB 5F48 “Skalp”).
Small-caliber bombs are usually used as part of cassettes and have a contact fuse and a shaped charge bomb design. [1]
Concrete-piercing and anti-submarine | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbreviation | Image | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Bomb mass (kg) | Explosive mass (kg) | Notes |
БетАБ-500 | 350 | 2200 | 477 | 76 | [2] | |
БетАБ-500ШП | 325 | 2500 | 380 | 77 | [2] Assault, with jet accelerator | |
БетАБ-500У | 450 | 2480 | 510 | 45 | [5] | |
ПЛАБ-250-120 | 240 | 1500 | 123 | 61 | [2] |
ZAB - incendiary aerial bomb. Designed to destroy manpower and military equipment with fire. The mass of incendiary bombs does not exceed 500 kg. Structurally, incendiary bombs are divided into 2 types:
ODAB - volume detonating bomb. Provides greater effect against manpower and vulnerable equipment (including in open shelters) than FAB. When encountering an obstacle, the dispersing charge is activated, the body is destroyed, the fuel splits and scatters. The fuel evaporates and, mixing with air, forms a cloud of air-fuel mixture. After the time required for the formation of a cloud of sufficient size, the secondary detonating explosive charge ignites the air-fuel mixture. [1]
Incendiary and volume-detonating | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbreviation | Image | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Bomb mass (kg) | Explosive mass (kg) | Notes |
ЗАБ-100-105 | 273 | 1065 | 106,9 | 28,5 | [2] | |
ЗАБ-250-200 | 325 | 1500 | 202 | 60 | [2] | |
ЗБ-500ШМ | 500 | 2500 | 317 | 260 | [2] | |
ЗБ-500ГД | 500 | 2500 | 270-340 (depending on the type of fire mixture) | 218-290 | [2] | |
ФЗАБ-500М | 400 | 2500 | 500 | 86+49 (Explosive+fire mixture) | [2] | |
ОФЗАБ-500 | 450 | 2500 | 500 | 250 | [2] | |
ОДАБ-500ПМ | ![]() | 500 | 2280 | 520 | 193 | [2] |
АВБПМ | ![]() | - | 7100 (44,000 kg TNT equivalent) | [6] |
RBK - disposable bomb clusters. They are thin-walled aerial bombs, designed for the use of small-caliber aerial bombs (up to 20 kg). The name consists of an abbreviation and type of equipment. Some RBKs are equipped with a removable fairing, which allows the RBC to be effectively installed on aircraft with both an external sling and an internal weapons bay. Based on the method of dispersing combat elements, RBKs are divided into two types:
KMGU - Unified Container for Small-sized Load. Designed for transportation and release of BKF (container front-line units) with submunitions. During combat use, the KMGU itself is located on the aircraft’s weapons suspension unit and is not dropped (although in an emergency it can be forcibly dropped). Structurally, the KMGU is a streamlined body with controlled flaps, compartments for suspending the BKF and automation that allows you to adjust the block release interval. [3] [7]
Relatively small caliber bombs are used as submunitions (bomblets) of cluster bombs. Due to the specifics of their use, in addition to the types of bombs described above, there are also specialized bombs, currently used mainly only in cluster bombs and KMGU.
OAB (АО, ShOAB) - an aerial fragmentation bomb (aviation fragmentation bomb, ball fragmentation aerial bomb). Air bombs whose main effect is fragments of the hull. The caliber of the bombs ranges from 0.5 to 50 kg. They are designed to destroy manpower, non- and lightly armored vehicles. Old aerial bombs have a cylindrical body with a rigid stabilizer that provides irregular crushing; modern bombs have a spherical or hemispherical design, a folding stabilizer, aerodynamic devices, notches for organized crushing of the body, or ready-made striking elements.
PTAB - an anti-tank aerial bomb. Designed to destroy armored objects. The destructive effect is a jet formed by a shaped charge inside the bomb body. Also, when detonated, the bomb body produces fragments that can hit manpower and unarmored vehicles. For the cumulative jet to be effective, the explosion must occur at a distance called the focal distance. Older bombs have a contact head or bottom fuse. Modern bombs have a built-in fuse with a target sensor. [1]
Cluster bombs | ||||||||
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Abbreviation (Bomb and bomblet) | Image | Warhead type | Diameter (mm) | Length (mm) | Bomb mass (kg) | Number of elements | Mass of one element (kg) | Notes |
РБК-500У ОФАБ-50УД | high-explosive fragmentation | 450 | 2500 | 520 | 10 | 50 | [2] Universal | |
РБК-500 АО-2,5РТМ | fragmentation | 450 | 2500 | 504 | 108 | 2,5 | [2] | |
РБК-500 ОАБ-2,5РТМ | fragmentation | 450 | 2500 | 500 | 126 | 2,5 | [2] | |
РБК-500 БетАБ | concrete-breaking | 450 | 2500 | 525 | 12 | - | [2] | |
РБК-500У БетАБ-М | concrete-breaking | 450 | 2495 | 480 | 10 | - | [2] Universal | |
РБК-500 ПТАБ-1М | anti-tank, shaped charge | 450 | 1954 | 427 | 268 | - | [2] | |
РБК-500У ПТАБ | anti-tank, shaped charge | 450 | 2500 | 520 | 352 | - | [2] Universal | |
РБК-500У СПБЭ-Д | self-aiming anti-tank | 450 | 2485 | 500 | 15 | - | [2] Universal | |
РБК-250 ЗАБ-2,5М | incendiary | 325 | 1492 | 195 | 48 | 2,5 | [2] | |
РБК-500 ЗАБ-2,5СМ | incendiary | 450 | 1954 | 480 | 297 | 2,5 | [2] | |
РБК-100 ПЛАБ-10К | anti-submarine | 240 | 1585 | 125 | 6 | 10 | [2] |
A bomb is an explosive weapon that uses the exothermic reaction of an explosive material to provide an extremely sudden and violent release of energy. Detonations inflict damage principally through ground- and atmosphere-transmitted mechanical stress, the impact and penetration of pressure-driven projectiles, pressure damage, and explosion-generated effects. Bombs have been utilized since the 11th century starting in East Asia.
Incendiary weapons, incendiary devices, incendiary munitions, or incendiary bombs are weapons designed to start fires. They may destroy structures or sensitive equipment using fire, and sometimes operate as anti-personnel weaponry. Incendiaries utilize materials such as napalm, thermite, magnesium powder, chlorine trifluoride, or white phosphorus. Though colloquially often called "bombs", they are not explosives but in fact operate to slow the process of chemical reactions and use ignition rather than detonation to start or maintain the reaction. Napalm, for example, is petroleum especially thickened with certain chemicals into a gel to slow, but not stop, combustion, releasing energy over a longer time than an explosive device. In the case of napalm, the gel adheres to surfaces and resists suppression.
A shell, in a military context, is a projectile whose payload contains an explosive, incendiary, or other chemical filling. Originally it was called a bombshell, but "shell" has come to be unambiguous in a military context. A shell can hold a tracer.
A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage, penetration, and fragmentation in explosive effect. They are designed to be effective against enemy troops, vehicles, and buildings.
The Mk 2 grenade, also nicknamed the Pineapple is a fragmentation-type anti-personnel hand grenade introduced by the U.S. armed forces in 1918. It was the standard issue anti-personnel grenade used during World War II, and also saw limited service in later conflicts, including the Korean War and Vietnam War. Replacing the failed Mk 1 grenade of 1917, it was standardized in 1920 as the Mk II, and redesignated the Mk 2 on April 2, 1945.
The Type 89 grenade discharger, inaccurately and colloquially known as a knee mortar by Allied forces, is a Japanese grenade launcher or light mortar that was widely used in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It got the nickname the "knee mortar" because of an erroneous Allied belief that these launchers could be fired by propping its plate against the leg. However, anyone trying to fire it this way would receive a severe bruise from its hefty recoil.
The military of the United States has used many different types of hand grenades since its foundation.
In warfare, high-explosive incendiary (HEI) is a type of ammunition specially designed to impart energy and therefore damage to its target in one or both of two ways: via a high-explosive charge and/or via its incendiary (fire-causing) effects. Each round has both capabilities.
High-explosive incendiary/armor-piercing ammunition (HEIAP) is a form of shell which combines armor-piercing capability and a high-explosive effect. In this respect it is a modern version of an armor-piercing shell. The ammunition may also be called semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiary (SAPHEI)
Fragmentation is the process by which the casing, shot, or other components of an anti-personnel weapon, bomb, barrel bomb, land mine, IED, artillery, mortar, tank gun, or autocannon shell, rocket, missile, grenade, etc. are dispersed and/or shattered by the detonation of the explosive filler.
A grenade is an explosive weapon typically thrown by hand, but can also refer to a shell shot from the muzzle of a rifle or a grenade launcher. A modern hand grenade generally consists of an explosive charge ("filler"), a detonator mechanism, an internal striker to trigger the detonator, an arming safety secured by a transport safety. The user removes the transport safety before throwing, and once the grenade leaves the hand the arming safety gets released, allowing the striker to trigger a primer that ignites a fuze, which burns down to the detonator and explodes the main charge.
The M47 bomb was a chemical bomb designed during World War II for use by the U.S. Army Air Forces.
This is a glossary of acronyms and initials used for aircraft weapons in the Russian Federation and formerly the USSR. The Latin-alphabet names are phonetic representations of the Cyrillic originals, and variations are inevitable.
The OFAB-100-120 is a small bomb that can be carried on Sukhoi Su-17, Sukhoi Su-25, MiG-29, Su-27, Sukhoi Su-30 and various other aircraft.
The M549 is a high-explosive rocket-assisted (HERA) 155 mm howitzer round developed for use by the US military in order to add additional range to standard howitzers, with a maximum range 30.1 km (18.7 mi) from a M198 howitzer. The projectile has two distinctive pre-assembled components—the high-explosive (HE) warhead and the rocket motor, making it a form of rocket-assisted projectile. The warhead is fabricated from high-fragmentation steel for increased effectiveness in terms of damage caused to target and contains a bulk-filled explosive.
The FAB-500 is a Soviet-designed 500-kilogram (1,100 lb) general purpose air-dropped bomb with a high-explosive warhead, primarily used by the Russian Aerospace Forces, former Soviet republics and customer countries. The original M-54 model was rolled out in 1954, shaped for internal carriage by heavy bombers, a low-drag M-62 version in 1962 was intended for fighter bomber external hardpoint carriage. Early models were unguided, with a single nose fuze, and compatible with most models of Soviet aircraft.
The SB 1000 (Spezialbombe) was a luftmine used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II.
The SB 2500 (Spezialbombe) was a luftmine or aerial mine in English used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.
The AB 500-1(Abwurfbehälter) was a cluster bomb used by the Luftwaffe during World War II.
Sirius is a Russian UCAV under development by the Russian company Kronshtadt, a further development of the Orion drone.
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)Attribution: translated from the Russian ru:Авиационные бомбы (Россия) in May 2024