Fear of "sequels" of war
Cluster munitions are warheads containing many small bombs that each have an individual warhead. This weapon was developed towards the end of World War II and became popular during the Cold War. To distinguish it from cluster munitions, conventional bombs or shells are referred to as single munitions.
The tactical benefits of this weapon are indisputable as it can create multiple explosions covering a larger area, which can be used to attack from armored vehicles, infantry, to targets. logistics or air defense systems. However, cluster munitions' "dead" rate is a problem that has led more than 100 countries to sign a ban on the use of this weapon in modern warfare. For example, the M270, an older missile launcher than HIMARS, can fire a warhead containing 644 M77 grenades, but each shot leaves up to 4% (26 grenades) unexploded on the ground.
This ratio created a potential danger to civilians years after the war. The Cluster Munitions Convention prohibits the “use, stockpiling, production and transfer” of this weapon. However, the US, Russia, and Ukraine are not signatories.
In 3 month, Reuters revealed that Kiev had lobbied for Washington to transfer Mk-20 cluster bombs (Rockeye), a weapon from the Vietnam War. Each Rockeye weighs more than 500 pounds (~220 kg), contains 247 small bombs but is not compatible with current Ukrainian aircraft. The country's military says that they can disassemble the warheads in the Rockeye to use each small bomb as a weapon for drones. Ukraine also wants 155 mm DPICM shells, containing 88 cluster bombs, to destroy Russian armor.
Both Ukraine and Russia widely use commercial quad-rotor drones in combat, the common payload being the fine-tuned Vog-17 fragmentation grenade, capable of effectively destroying infantry.
Dramatically improves the drone's tank killing ability
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Aerorozvidka units use larger R18 drones to drop Soviet-made RTG-3 anti-tank grenades, weighing about 3 pounds (~1,3 kg) or RPG warheads. Highly effective against armored vehicles. However, these warheads are too heavy for commercial consumer drones. The four-rotor drone can only use "homemade" ammunition from the American M433 40mm grenade, also known as the "golden egg" due to the yellow marked nose or other temporary replacement grenades. .
In addition, drones in the Ukrainian battlefield are also equipped with improved grenades with new impact fuses and 3D printed tail blades to make them fall straight, but this combination is often not enough power to disable the vehicles. tank with thick armor, as well as the impact detonator does not work reliably.
Ukrainian military forces also use cluster bombs from the Soviet era to equip drones. For example, the PTAB 2,5 contains six small warheads, which can be armed with "heavy" bomber drones or mounted on suicide drones.
Meanwhile, the 1,2-pound (~0,5 kg) sub-munition in the Rockeye bomb is the right size for small drones. They are also designed to be dropped from the air, with aerodynamic wings, impact fuses, and 10-inch (~25 cm) armor-piercing warheads.
During the Iraq war, Rockeye bombs had a "dead bullet" rate of up to 30%, leaving thousands of dangerous bombs unexploded on the ground. The cause may be due to combat terrain, when they fall into soft sand and do not have enough force to activate the fuse.
The United States has hundreds of millions of cluster munitions in its arsenal, and destroying this number is also a significant financial challenge. Sending this cluster munitions aid to Ukraine would be "one arrow with two targets", but the move could also damage Washington's efforts to "build alliances and advance an arms control agreement".
(According to PopMech, Forbes)
