Russian guided bombs devastate Ukrainian-held town in Kursk
The Russians continue to attack targets without consideration for civilian casualties, even when these targets are on their own territory. A guided FAB bomb, known for its immense destructive power, struck a boarding school in Sudża, located in the Kursk region. We explore what this weapon is.
According to Ukrainian sources, the Russians are bombing their own territory as if it were any other front line. This was evident in the attack using a glide bomb FAB with UMPK modules on a boarding school in Sudża, where at least 95 people were trapped under the rubble. Most of the victims are elderly and children, as reported by the portal Militarnyj.
Sudża is the largest town occupied by the Ukrainians during the attack on the Kursk region. Before the war, its population was about 5,000, but this number has reportedly decreased to about 200 residents.
Russian war tactics — FAB bombs are a key element
Russian war tactics since World War II have relied on significant equipment and firepower to neutralize points of resistance. Currently, exploitation infantry groups are deployed for assaults, tasked solely with engaging in continuous reconnaissance by combat, effectively drawing enemy fire. This approach is referred to as "meat assaults" since few survive.
Following such reconnaissance, the Russians use artillery or aerial bombardment with powerful FAB aviation bombs equipped with UMPK (Unified Planning and Correction Module Kit) to target identified points of Ukrainian resistance. These bombs possess enough power to destroy virtually any field fortifications.
After the bombardment, the Russians send another wave of exploitation infantry, repeating attacks until successful. While this tactic is unacceptable in modern armed forces, it has proven effective in certain regions. This is particularly true for the Donetsk region, where the Ukrainians face command and personnel shortages.
Due to a shortage of medium-range air defense systems capable of shooting down aircraft carrying FABs at distances over 62 miles, such as the Patriot or SAMP/T, the Ukrainians must engage in maneuver defense, continuously retreating to minimize losses.
FAB aviation bombs — simple weapons based on Western designs
Russian FAB bombs with UMPK modules are based on American JDAM-ER bombs. The key component is a lightweight aluminum module containing a section with satellite and inertial navigation, control surfaces, and folding wings. This module is attached to standard FAB series aviation bombs from the Soviet era, with weights of 1,100 lbs, 3,300 lbs, and even 6,600 lbs.
These bombs, when dropped from an altitude of over 6 miles, can travel more than 25 miles and hit targets with precision within a few or even several dozen yards, even if the GPS signal is jammed. However, such a deviation is insignificant, especially with bombs like FAB-1500 or FAB-3000, which contain approximately 1,500 lbs and 3,300 lbs of TNT, respectively. The shockwave from these bombs can reduce all structures to rubble over an area of several hundred yards.
