Defense News , Russia :- Russian military leaders, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, recently revealed a new and powerful weapon at a demonstration in the Moscow region. The showcased bomb, called FAB-1500-M54, comes with a cutting-edge UMPK control module specifically designed to boost its flight range and precision, guided by satellites.
The UMPK-1500 module, showcased in the event, has larger wings and improved control surfaces compared to previous models. These enhancements ensure the bomb can travel longer distances without compromising its weight. Moreover, a round-shaped overhead aerodynamic fairing has been added to improve the bomb's overall performance in the air.
Dating back to 1954, the FAB-1500-54 is an unguided high-explosive aerial bomb weighing 1,550 kg, with 675 kg of explosive material. It is intended for targeting industrial, urban, and port facilities when dropped from heights of up to 16,000 meters at speeds of up to 1,200 km/h. The new bomb appears to be aimed at fortifications and well-protected positions of the Ukrainian military on the front lines.
While specific details about the bomb's flight range and launch parameters are currently undisclosed, it is anticipated that frontline bombers like the Su-34 and Su-24 will carry these bombs on their under-fuselage pylons.
Russia started working on adapting flight control modules for 1,500-kg bombs in early 2023, and by September of the same year, there were reports of initial attempts to deploy them in battlefield situations.
It's essential to highlight that Russian aerial bombs with UMPK modules have faced technical issues and failures in the past. These incidents have led to serious problems, including mistakenly dropping bombs on the Russian city of Belgorod, with initial denial and false accusations against Ukraine.
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