Russian Sukhoi Su-34 (NATO reporting name: Fullback) frontline bombers are using KAB-1500L guided air bombs to attack the Islamic State terrorist organization’s most important facilities in Syria, a source in the defense and industrial sector told TASS on Thursday.
The Su-34 frontline bombers are operating in Syria within the Russian Aerospace Force’s aviation grouping.
The KAB-1500L guided bomb makes part of the Su-34 frontline bomber’s ammunition load. The aircraft has the Platan optoelectronic and laser targeting system in the lower fuselage, which provides high accuracy of both free-fall and guided bombs. The Su-24M2 (Fencer) frontline bombers can use KAB-1500L bombs as well.
The KAB-1500L guided air bomb with a semi-active laser homing head is designed to hit stationary ground and surface targets, including railway and motorway bridges, dams, the enemy’s defense enterprises, large ammunition depots and fuel and lubricant storages, railway junctions and other large-size targets.
The bomb’s warhead weighs 1,100 kilograms. The bomb has folding fins, which allow it to maneuver while being guided to the target.
According to the data of public sources, the KAB-1500L bomb’s circular error probability does not exceed 7 meters.
It was reported earlier that the Russian air task force was using a wide range of guided weapons in Syria, including the Kh-29 (AS-14 Kedge) and Kh-25 (AS-10 Karen) air-to-surface missiles equipped with laser and television homing heads and the KAB-250 and KAB-500 guided air bombs with laser, satellite and television homing heads.
The Russian air task force is also using the OFAB-500U free-fall high-explosive fragmentation air bomb in Syria, the source in the defense and industrial sector said. The OFAB-500U bomb is designed to hit military hardware, including lightly-armored vehicles, various facilities, fortifications and manpower.
The OFAB-500U bomb has a drag chute, which can be opened at any altitude to detonate the bomb at the required altitude. The OFAB-500U bomb most often explodes at an altitude of 5-10 meters above the ground.
The bomb of the type can be used by Su-34, Su-24M and Su-25SM/SM3 (Frogfoot) aircraft.
According to the data of public sources, the OFAB-500U bomb’s warhead weighs 230 kilograms.
