FZAB

FZAB

General Facts

TYPE
Fragmentation incendiary bomb

ORIGIN
- USSR

NICKNAMES
FOZAB-500 (alternative name for FZAB-500)

DESIGNED
Unknown

DESIGNER
Bazalt

PRODUCTION
Remains in production

PRODUCERS
Russia - Bazalt
USSR - Bazalt

QUANTITY
Unknown

UNIT COST
Believed to be in the same price range as the FAB M54 and M62 general purpose bombs.

CHARACTERISTICS
Similar dimensions as general purpose bombs
Multi-purpose and area effects
Can be used on many types of Soviet aircraft
Limited effectiveness against bunkers for FZAB-500
Freefall bomb, thus limited accuracy

Introduction

The FZAB is a series of fragmentation incendiary bomb of Soviet origin. They have been derived from general purpose bomb designs as more capable weapons for use against industry, hangars, train stations and equipment in the field. Both models in this series have very different characteristics. Having been derived from common bomb designs they may be carried and used on a wide range of Soviet aircraft without need for special integration.

Layout

The original FZAB-500 is derived from the FAB-500 M54 general purpose bomb design but has a very different filler, consisting of high explosive and incendiary material. A further development is called the FZAB-500M. This uses the FAB-500 M62 bomb body design. The warhead consists of two separate high explosive and incendiary parts. This makes the explosion more concentrated while retaining the incendiary area effect. Both weapons may be released from altitudes as low as 200 m and at subsonic and supersonic speeds.

Firepower

The FZAB series is mostly effective against personnel and soft skin targets. The incendiary effect will render all stricken equipment useless. The fire may spread depending on target and weather conditions. The FZAB-500 is only effective when used against targets in the open. It causes a 350 m radius fire that burns for 2 minutes. The FZAB-500M is credited with a smaller effective range, but has a concentrated blast that allows it to be used against bunkers.

Platform

The FZAB series can be used on all types of aircraft that can use the general purpose bombs they have been derived from. The FZAB series has been cleared for used on the MiG-21 Fishbed, MiG-23 and MiG-27 Flogger, MiG-25 Foxbat, MiG-29 Fulcrum, Su-17 ans Su-22 Fitter, Su-24 Fencer, Su-25 Frogfoot, Su-27 Flanker, Tu-16 Badger, Tu-95 Bear.

Users

Both models of the FZAB series have been used by Soviet forces and remain in use with Russia. The FZAB-500M remains in production. It is likely that the FZAB series has been exported to several Soviet allies.

Variants

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FZAB-500

FZAB-500

The FZAB-500 is derived from the FAB-500 M54 general purpose bomb. It has a similar distinctive ribbed nose section. Unlike the FAB-500 M54 it is filled with a mixture of both high explosive and incendiary liquid. The mixture makes it effective when used in the open, but reduced penetration characteristics.

FZAB-500M

FZAB-500M

The FZAB-500M is a modernized version of the FZAB-500. Unlike its predecessor it is derived from the more streamline FAB-500 M62 general purpose bomb. The forward half is filled with common high explosive while the rear half is filled with an incendiary substance. It is reported that this design has better penetration charachteristics. As such it is reported to be more suitable against bunkers than the original FZAB-500.