OVERVIEW: The FAB-100M-80 is a Soviet-designed, unguided general-purpose bomb equipped with a high-explosive warhead weighing approximately 40 kg. It is intended for use against personnel, light vehicles, and unfortified infrastructure in tactical air-to-ground operations.

DETAIL: The FAB-100M-80 is part of the Soviet/Russian FAB-series (Fugasnaya Aviatsionnaya Bomba – High-Explosive Aerial Bomb), optimized for low-drag characteristics and compatibility with a broad range of aircraft types. The “100” designates its nominal total weight in kilograms, while “M” indicates modernization, and “80” refers to the design year. It features a streamlined body, single central fuse well, and conventional tail fins for stable free-fall trajectory. Its simplicity and effectiveness made it a staple in Warsaw Pact arsenals and client states.

The FAB-100M-80 improved on earlier versions by introducing a more aerodynamic casing and improved structural integrity for carriage at higher speeds and altitudes. Though lacking any guidance or penetration enhancements, it remains effective for close air support missions and saturation bombing. It can be equipped with mechanical or electronic fuzes for impact or time-delay detonation.

The bomb is typically deployed in large numbers from tactical aircraft flying at low or medium altitude. Its high-explosive charge allows for area suppression, particularly effective against troops in the open or lightly protected targets. It is commonly used in training and combat operations where precision is not required but volume of fire is.

NOTE:
IOC: ~1980s
Operators: Russia, Belarus, Syria, Algeria, Vietnam
Platform: Su-17, Su-24, Su-25, Su-30, MiG-21, MiG-29
Conflicts: Syrian Civil War, regional training and exercises

SOURCE:
Russian Ministry of Defence publications ; Jane’s Air-Launched Weapons ; Rosoboronexport Catalogs ; Military Balance (IISS) ; National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC)