OVERVIEW: The FAB-500ShN-54 is a Soviet 500 kg high-explosive bomb with a warhead weight of approximately 200 kg, designed for low-altitude delivery using a drag-retardation system. It is equipped with a parabrake to slow descent and ensure safe separation from the releasing aircraft.

DETAIL: The “ShN” in the designation stands for “parachute-retarded, low-altitude,” reflecting its role as a bomb intended for tactical missions at very low altitudes. Introduced in the 1950s, it is based on the FAB-500 series but fitted with a parabrake assembly that deploys immediately after release, allowing aircraft to avoid bomb blast and fragmentation effects during attack runs. This feature is critical for high-speed attack aircraft operating at treetop level.

The bomb contains a thick casing and a large filler of either TNT or A-IX-1 (a RDX-based composition), optimized for high blast and fragmentation effects. It is compatible with multiple mechanical and electrical fuzes that can be configured for impact or delayed detonation depending on target type.

Typically deployed from aircraft like the Su-17, MiG-27, or Su-24, the FAB-500ShN-54 was widely used in Soviet offensive doctrine for strikes against troop concentrations, hardened positions, and infrastructure. Its relatively simple design and robustness have kept it in storage and reserve stocks within several former Warsaw Pact and Soviet-aligned nations.

NOTE:
IOC: ~1950s
Operators: USSR (historical), Russia, Belarus, Syria
Platform: Su-17, Su-24, MiG-27
Conflicts: Soviet–Afghan War, Syrian Civil War (limited)

SOURCE:
Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; Russian Ministry of Defence ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS): https://fas.org ; TsNIITochMash Technical Manual Archives