OVERVIEW: The RBK-500-PTAB is an unguided, free-falling cluster bomb developed for anti-armor missions using a large number of shaped-charge submunitions. Warhead weight: Approximately 250 kg total.

DETAIL:
The RBK-500-PTAB was designed by the Soviet Union to counter massed armored formations by dispersing hundreds of armor-penetrating bomblets over a wide area. The weapon carries up to 268 PTAB-1M high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) submunitions, each capable of penetrating the top armor of tanks and other vehicles. The submunitions are released mid-air via a central dispenser casing that opens at a pre-set altitude.

Each PTAB-1M bomblet uses a shaped charge to achieve armor penetration, with effect optimized against the thinner upper surfaces of main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers. When deployed in quantity, these bomblets create a saturation zone capable of damaging or disabling large numbers of vehicles. The RBK-500 casing is compatible with various mechanical or time fuzes, allowing flexibility in mission profiles.

The bomb is typically delivered from attack aircraft flying at low to medium altitudes. It is intended for preemptive or retaliatory use against armored concentrations, convoys, or motorized battalions. Its effectiveness depends on proper delivery and accurate dispersal over intended targets.

NOTE:
IOC: ~1970s
Operators: Russia, Belarus, India, Syria, former Warsaw Pact states
Platform: Su-25, Su-24, MiG-27, MiG-29, Su-30
Conflicts: Soviet–Afghan War, Chechen Wars, Syrian Civil War, 2022 Russia–Ukraine conflict

SOURCE:
Russian Ministry of Defence ; Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; Rosoboronexport ; Military Balance (IISS) ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) https://fas.org ; https://www.janes.com ; https://roe.ru ; https://www.iiss.org