Russian Forces Unleashing 3,300-Pound 'Monster' Bombs to Disable U.S.-Supplied Patriot Missiles in Ukraine

Russian forces have claimed increasing success in neutralizing United States-supplied Patriot missile defense systems in Ukraine using FAB-1500-M54 glide bombs.

According to reports, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the recent destruction of two Patriot Surface-to-Air Missile systems and two military helicopters in Kharkiv.

Captain Vasily Dandykin, a Russian reserve officer, stated that the deployment of U.S.-made Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine six months into the Russian invasion in 2022 has inflicted significant harm on Russian forces.

Dandykin explained in a statement to the Kremlin-backed news outlet Moskovskij Komsomolets that Russia has resorted to using FAB-1500 glide bombs, known as "monsters," capable of precise mid-air course correction and causing extensive damage, to eliminate multiple Patriot SAM sites.

"The Patriot air defense system battery is about 8 launchers, a command post, radar, power supply station, and communications station. We are now using high-explosive bombs FAB-500 and FAB-1500 with a planning and correction module, which fly to a range of 40-50 kilometers [around 25 to 31 miles]," Dandykin said.

He further explained, "The same one-and-a-half ton, for example, penetrates several meters of reinforced concrete shelters. To counteract our aviation and cover their troops, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to pull these scarce Western systems closer to the line of combat. These complexes did a lot of harm to us when they were used for ambushes, now we 'click' (and destroy) the Patriot SAMs one by one."

The Russian Defense Ministry released a statement claiming the destruction of a Patriot missile defense system in Kharkiv recently, attributing the action to "aviation, drones, rocket and artillery forces of the Russian Federation."

Additionally, the statement mentioned the destruction of two Ukrainian military helicopters and a workshop for weapon and equipment repair in the Balakliia area of the Kharkiv region.

The FAB-1500 glide bomb has emerged as one of Russia's most formidable weapons, with President Vladimir Putin authorizing its mass production.

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Weighing 3,307 pounds, the FAB-1500 can create a crater nearly 50 feet in diameter upon impact and boasts remarkable precision, according to assessments by the Bulgarian Military.

Defense expert Dr. Marina Miron emphasized the effectiveness of the FAB-1500, particularly its upgraded precision guidance module.

With Russian forces successfully neutralizing Patriot missile defense systems, the military balance between Ukraine and Russia appears increasingly skewed, exacerbating Ukraine's challenges, including critical shortages of artillery shells.