There is no weapon that cannot be completely destroyed, but the FAB-1500 high-explosive aerial bombs and the newer FAB-3000 that Russia has begun producing are raising concerns among the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This perspective was shared on Radio 1 by Konstantin Sivkov, who serves as Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Missile and Artillery Sciences.
He noted that a bomb of exceptionally large caliber, particularly one weighing about a ton and a half, naturally unsettles the observers because of its formidable destructive potential. Sivkov added that the FAB-3000 will join the arsenal, delivering a high explosive bomb with a weight of three tons. The sheer power of such a munition is what draws attention, he explained.
As Sivkov recalled, similar extreme-caliber bombs were deployed during the Great Patriotic War. The expert indicated that the Soviet military left these weapons near Königsberg to compel the enemy to surrender, a strategy that underscored the psychological and strategic impact of heavy ordnance in combat scenarios.
Recently, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that a facility in the Nizhny Novgorod region has embarked on mass production of the FAB-3000 aerial bombs. The disclosure came as part of a briefing to the defense leadership regarding industrial capabilities and readiness to scale up production.
During the briefing, the head of the ministry, Sergei Shoigu, was informed that the production facility has significantly expanded the output of FAB-500 stockpiles, substantially increased FAB-1500 manufacturing, and, starting from February of the current year, initiated large-scale production of FAB-3000. Officials also noted an expansion in the spectrum of artillery munitions being produced at the site, signaling a broadened capacity to supply a range of high-caliber bombs and related ordnance.
Further details were provided by Rostec officials, who explained how the industrial base could be reactivated to support the sustained manufacture of heavy bombs. The dialogue emphasized the strategic importance of maintaining a robust domestic production capability to meet evolving defense requirements and to ensure a steady supply of advanced aerial munitions for future operations.