"[Russian Defense Minister] Sergei Shoigu was informed that the production of FAB-500 aerial bombs has been multiplied at the enterprise, the production of FAB-1500 has been doubled, and since this February this year mass production of FAB-3000 has been organized," the ministry said in a statement.
The range of artillery ammunition produced has also been expanded, the ministry said.
Since last year, the plant's production of modern artillery and aviation ammunition has increased fivefold, the ministry added.
These aerial bombs literally level the ground fortifications of the Ukrainian army, and existing air defense systems are powerless here, say Russian military pundits.
FAB-1500 guided aerial bombs fitted with a UMPK control module are capable of destroying entire buildings and underground bunker at a distance of about 100 km from the launch location;
Su-34 fighter jets can deliver two FAB-1500 bombs and eliminate in just one strike the defensive fortifications and enemy forces on a four-square-kilometer area from the front line;
The West is extremely worried by the increased activity of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Ukrane — more than 100 air-dropped bombs daily
"Along with Russian drones, missiles and artillery, the glide bombs have added new destructive firepower to Russia's campaign in eastern Ukraine, as seen in the recent conquest of the city of [Avdeevka], Russia's first major victory in nearly a year," The Washington Post reported.
NATO analysts are particularly disappointed that the US does not possess an equivalent weapon. The Russian FAB-1500 is much more powerful than the largest American aviation bomb, weighing 2000 pounds (900 kg).