OVERVIEW: The ODAB‑500ShL is a Soviet/Russian 500 kg class fuel‑air explosive (thermobaric) bomb equipped with a ≈193 kg volumetric warhead and a parachute-based retarder for low-altitude, airburst delivery.

DETAIL: The ODAB‑500 series, developed in the 1980s by NPO Bazalt, is designed for maximum overpressure and thermal effects against trenches, field fortifications, minefields, and soft‑skinned targets. The “ShL” variant incorporates a tail‑mounted parachute (‘parabreak’), deploying at 30–50 m altitude to slow its descent and allow for fuel aerosolization via a barometric or proximity fuse, followed milliseconds later by ignition to generate a powerful multi‑bar shockwave.

The thin-walled casing holds approximately 193 kg of thermobaric mixture (ZhVV‑14). deployable from both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters 

Typically delivered by Su‑24, Su‑25, Su‑34, MiG‑21/23/27/29, and Mi‑24/28 and Ka‑52 helicopters, it creates a blast radius of up to 30 m, sufficient to collapse trench systems or destroy soft‑sheltered troops .

NOTE:
IOC: 1980s
Operators: Soviet Union → Russian Federation (also possibly Syria)
Platforms: Su‑17/22/24/25/30/34/35, MiG‑21/23/27/29, Mi‑24/28, Ka‑52
Role: Area denial, bunker/trench neutralization, minefield clearing
Conflicts: Soviet–Afghan War, Chechnya, Syria, Ukraine

SOURCE:
Jane’s Air‑Launched Weapons ; Army‑Technology (“inner workings…” FAE)  ; Wikipedia “Soviet and Russian aerial bombs” entry with ODAB‑500 data  ; Army Recognition (MoD release Su‑34 use) 

