FAB-250#Variants

{{short description|250 Kg unguided aerial bomb}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}

{{Infobox weapon

|name= FAB-250 M-62 General Purpose (GP) Bomb{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/fab-250.htm |title=FAB-250 General purpose Bomb |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/bombs.htm |title=Russian Aviation Bombs |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/bombs-history-2.htm |title=Soviet Gravity Bombs |website=www.globalsecurity.org}}

| image= File:FAB-250-M62.JPG

| image_size = 300

|caption= FAB-250 M-62

|origin=Soviet Union

|type=High-drag and low-drag general-purpose bomb

|is_explosive=yes

|service=

|used_by=

|wars=

|designer=

|design_date=

|manufacturer=

|unit_cost=

|production_date= 1946–? (M-46) 1954–present; (M-54); 1962–present (M-62)

|number=

|variants=KAB-250

|spec_label=

|weight= {{convert|250|kg|lb|sigfig=3}}

|length=1.92 m

|part_length=

|width=

|height=

|diameter=0.3 m

|crew=

|filling= High explosive

|filling_weight= 100 kg

|detonation= Impact fuse

|yield=

}}

The FAB-250 is a Soviet-designed {{convert|250|kg|adj=on}} general purpose air-dropped bomb with a high-explosive warhead, primarily used by the Russian Air Force, former Soviet republics and customer countries. It is very widespread throughout the Third World and used in many conflicts in Asia and Africa among others.

The original M-46 model was rolled out in 1946, followed by the M-54 model 1954 with reinforced structure, both models shaped for internal carriage by heavy bombers, a low-drag M-62 version in 1962 was intended for fighter bomber external hardpoint carriage.{{cite web |title=USSR Bomb |url=https://www.jmu.edu/cisr/_pages/research/afghanistan-oig/01-bomb.pdf |website=www.jmu.edu |access-date=}} The bomb is unguided, features a single nose fuse, and is compatible with most models of Soviet aircraft.{{Cite web |url=http://www.deagel.com/Defensive-Weapons/FAB-500_a003491001.aspx |title=Ancile (FAB-500) |website=www.deagel.com}} The FAB-250 was extensively employed over Afghanistan by Soviet and allied Afghan forces during the 1980s.{{cite journal |title=Afghanistan Ordnance Identification Guide |journal=Global CWD Repository |date=2004 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/153206738.pdf}} The FAB-250 has been used most recently over Syria by both Russian and Syrian warplanes.{{cite web |title=The Su-22 Is Syria's War-Weary Warhorse |website=War Is Boring |date=15 February 2017 |url=https://warisboring.com/the-su-22-is-syrias-war-weary-warhorse/ |access-date=2018-03-15}}

Ethiopia used it during the Tigray War.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Russia adapted FAB-250 bombs and equipped them with planning and correction modules (UMPK) containing Inertial navigation system similar to the adaptions made to FAB-500 M-62 bombs, the FAB-250 M-62 is lighter and more aerodynamic than the heavier FAB-500 M-62, which means it is less destructive but has a longer gliding range which has been stated as 80 kilometres, this reduces the likelihood of Russian aircraft when deploying the adapted bombs of being hit by Ukrainian Surface-to-air missile systems.{{cite web |title=Доработка авиабомб ФАБ-250 позволила сделать из них высокоточные боеприпасы |url=https://tass-ru.translate.goog/armiya-i-opk/17663845?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc&_x_tr_hist=true |website=TASS |access-date=25 July 2024 |language=ru}}

According to the Institute for the Study of War FAB-250 bombs "weigh 250 kilograms, hold an explosive weight of 99 kilograms, have a damage radius of 120 meters, and can destroy manpower, equipment, and light fortifications."{{cite web |title= Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 30, 2023 | author1= Karolina Hird |author2= Christina Harward |author3=Kateryna Stepanenko |author4=Angelica Evans |author5=Frederick W. Kagan

|website=understandingwar.org |date=30 October 2023 |url=https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-october-30-2023 |access-date=2023-11-01}}

On 29 January 2025, Bloomberg reported that Russian oil shipments through the port of Ust-Luga were suspended due to an overnight strike by Ukrainian drones. The SBU claimed the Andreapol oil pumping station was struck. The is part of the Baltic Pipeline System-II run by Transneft, a Russian state owned company. A fire and oil spill were reported.{{Cite web |title=Oil shipments on pause at Russia's Ust-Luga port after drone strike, Bloomberg reports |url= https://kyivindependent.com/oil-stops-flowing-via-russias-ust-luga-port-after-drone-strike-bloomberg-reports/ |access-date=2025-01-31| website=The Kyiv Independent |author1=Abbey Fenbert |language=en}} The attack is noted for using drones that dropped FAB-250 M-54 bombs. Which indicates a reusable drone instead of a “kamikaze-type”. {{Cite web |title= Ukrainian forces use drones with FAB-250 for attacks on Russia |url= https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-forces-use-fab-250-drones-for-attacks-1738271129.html |access-date=2025-01-31| website=RBC Ukraine|author1= DARYNA VIALKO |language=en}}