Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the general purpose (iron) bombs category.
01 / Overview
FAB-500
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1931–
Quantity
500
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GENERAL PURPOSE (IRON) BOMBS · INTERWAR PERIOD
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
90
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the general purpose (iron) bombs category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- Munition Typegeneral purpose high-explosive aerial bomb
- Service Entry Year1931
- Total Weight500 kg
- Length2.47 m
- Diameter400 mm
- In ServiceYes
◈Guidance2MOD.2
- GuidedYes
- GPS / INS GuidanceYes
▣Warhead & Effect3MOD.3
- Warhead Typehigh-explosive
- Explosive Filler Weight201 kg
- Filler TypeHigh explosive
◇Delivery2MOD.2
◆Platform3MOD.3
- Internal CarriageYes
- Low-Drag BodyYes
- Fin / Tail Typeconical tail with stabilizing fins
▤Warhead Detail2MOD.2
- Detonation Mechanism / Fuzesingle nose fuze
- Explosive Filler Weight201 kg
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1931Production started
- 1936First deployment: Spanish Civil War
- 1954Entered service
95
years in service
500
units produced
10
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 10 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
FAB-500 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win·33% ongoing·67% loss
Total Conflicts
3
Victories
0
Ongoing
1
Losses
2
2022–full-scale Russo-Ukrainian warOngoing→2011–2024Syrian Civil WarDecisive victory→1979–1989Soviet-Afghan WarDecisive victory→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Variants
▚ WEAPON FAMILY
06 / Operators
Operator Countries20country
07 / MASS Score
GENERAL PURPOSE (IRON) BOMBS RANKING General Purpose (Iron) Bombs · Interwar Period
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
88GENERAL PURPOSE (IRON) BOMBS2INTERWAR PERIOD · GENERAL PURPOSE (IRON) BOMBS1117RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS19PERFORMANCE/PRICE · GENERAL PURPOSE (IRON) BOMBS
ⓘ Rankings are within theGeneral Purpose (Iron) Bombscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
A navigation system combining Global Positioning System (GPS) for absolute positioning and Inertial Navigation System (INS) for dead reckoning, providing continuous and accurate location and orientation data.
A guided bomb is a munition that uses a guidance system to modify its flight path in real-time to ensure accuracy.
A streamlined design reducing air resistance to increase the speed or accuracy of a Gravity Bomb.
A stand-off capability refers to the ability of a weapon to be deployed at a distance from the target, typically to enhance aircraft or launch platform survivability.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources