FAB-500

Development of the FAB-500 series began in 1929 with the FAB-500sv. Following testing in 1931, series production commenced the same year. World War II era developments included the long welded FAB-500M-43 and the short FAB-500M-44. Post-war models include the FAB-500M-54, designed for internal carriage in heavy bombers, and the FAB-500M-62, a low-drag variant for external carriage on fighter-bombers.

The FAB-500 is a general purpose high-explosive aerial bomb. The series includes several specialized variants, such as the OFAB fragmentation bomb, parachute-retarded models for low-altitude delivery, and thick-cased versions for striking concrete and reinforced concrete objects. The FAB-500M-62T is a heat-resistant variant designed for high-speed flight. While early models are unguided and utilize a single nose fuze, recent versions incorporate the UMPK system. This glide kit uses pop-out wings and satellite guidance to provide precision targeting and stand-off capability, allowing aircraft to engage targets while remaining outside the reach of air defenses.

The bomb is widely deployed by the Russian Aerospace Forces and former Soviet republics. It has been exported to several countries, including India, China, Vietnam, Venezuela, Malaysia, and Mali. Initial combat use occurred during the Spanish Civil War, where the bomb was designated R-500. It was used throughout World War II and saw service in Afghanistan during the 1980s. Both Russian and Syrian warplanes utilized the bomb during the Syrian Civil War. In the invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have used the M-62 variant, including UMPK-equipped glide bombs launched from Su-35 aircraft. Incidents involving the bomb were recorded in Chernihiv and Odesa in 2022. Full-scale training of Russian pilots on the UMPK-equipped variants reportedly began in late 2023.