Cluster munition

A cluster munition is a specialized explosive weapon designed for wide-area impact. These weapons are launched from the ground or dropped from aircraft. Instead of exploding in a single spot, they release many smaller explosives called submunitions or bomblets.

The primary goal of these weapons is to strike multiple targets simultaneously. They are often used to engage enemy personnel or destroy military vehicles. Some specific versions are even designed to damage infrastructure, such as electrical power lines or airport runways.

The mechanism of a cluster munition relies on a large, hollow outer shell. This shell acts as a container for the smaller submunitions. Depending on the design, a single container can hold anywhere from two to over 2,000 bomblets.

When the weapon reaches a certain point, the shell opens and ejects the contents. This creates a large pattern of explosions across a wide area. To protect the delivery aircraft, some submunitions use small parachute retarders or streamers. These devices slow the descent of the bomblets, allowing the plane to escape the blast zone.

There are several distinct types of cluster munitions categorized by their intended effect. Anti-personnel munitions use explosive fragmentation to target infantry and unarmored equipment. Anti-tank munitions utilize shaped-charge warheads to pierce heavy armor. Some submunitions are multi-purpose, combining fragmentation and shaped charges in one unit.

Incendiary cluster bombs are designed to start fires using materials like napalm or white phosphorus. One highly specialized type is the CBU-94/B, an anti-electrical weapon. This dispenser releases fine conductive fibers to cause short circuits in high-voltage power lines. During the 1999 Kosovo War, this weapon knocked out 70% of the electrical supply in Serbia.

Technological development of these weapons has evolved significantly over time. The first major operational cluster bomb was the German SD-2, also known as the Butterfly Bomb, used in World War II. During that era, the United States, Russia, and Italy all developed similar technologies independently.

By the 1970s and 1990s, many nations had adopted various cluster bombs as standard munitions. Modern versions have even become "smart." For example, the US CBU-97 uses thermal and visual sensors to locate and attack specific armored targets. While these smart submunitions are more expensive, they require fewer units to defeat mobile targets.

History shows that cluster munitions have been used in many global conflicts. During the Vietnam War, the United States dropped 260 million bomblets on Laos between 1964 and 1973. This massive deployment had lasting consequences, as 80 million of those bomblets failed to explode.

In the 1982 Falklands War, British Sea Harriers used BL755 cluster bombs against Argentinian positions. Other conflicts involving these weapons include the Soviet-Afghan War, the Western Sahara war, and the Nagorno-Karabakh wars. In Nagorno-Karabakh, the area remained off-limits for years due to contamination from unexploded ordnance.

The most significant issue with cluster munitions is the high rate of unexploded ordnance. When submunitions fail to detonate upon impact, they remain on the ground as dangerous hazards. The failure rate for these weapons ranges from two percent to over 40 percent.

This makes them a major threat to civilians long after a conflict has ended. Unexploded bomblets can kill or maim people who encounter them by accident. Because of these risks, the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) was adopted in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008. This treaty prohibits the use, development, production, and stockpiling of these weapons.

The Convention entered into force on August 1, 2010, becoming binding international law. As of February 10, 2022, 123 states have joined the Convention, consisting of 110 states parties and 13 signatories.

While some smart munitions are excluded from the treaty because they aim to reduce indiscriminate effects, the overall goal is to limit civilian harm. The presence of these weapons connects military strategy to long-term humanitarian challenges and international law.