Cluster munition

A big bomb can break open in the air.

It lets out many small bombs. These small bombs fall over a wide area.

Some small bombs hit tanks or trucks. Others can start big fires. Some even break power lines.

These weapons can be very dangerous. Many small bombs do not pop. They stay on the ground for a long time.

These unexploded bombs can hurt people. They can hurt people even long after a war ends.

Because of this, many lands have a rule. This rule says these bombs are not allowed.

A cluster munition is a special type of weapon. It can be dropped from a plane or launched from the ground.

Inside the main shell are many smaller parts. These are called submunitions or bomblets. A single shell can hold more than 2,000 of them. When the shell opens, it scatters these small bombs over a wide area.

Different bomblets do different jobs. Some are made to destroy tanks. Others use fire to start big flames. Some even use fine wires to break power lines.

These weapons can be very dangerous for people. Many bomblets do not explode right away. They stay on the ground like hidden traps. The failure rate can be over 40 percent. This means many small bombs stay live for a long time. They can hurt people long after a war is over.

Because of these risks, many nations follow a rule. This rule is called the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It bans the use and making of these weapons. As of 2022, 123 states have joined this agreement.

A cluster munition is a special kind of explosive weapon. It can be dropped from an airplane or launched from the ground.

These weapons are designed to hit many targets at once. They release many smaller parts called submunitions or bomblets. Some are meant to stop soldiers or destroy vehicles. Others are built to damage runways or electric power lines.

How do these weapons work? A basic cluster bomb has a hollow outer shell. Inside this shell, there can be two to over 2,000 bomblets.

When the weapon is released, it opens and scatters the bomblets over a wide area. Some bomblets use small parachutes to slow their fall. This helps the plane fly away from the blast. Some modern versions are even "smart." They use sensors to find and attack armored vehicles.

People have used these weapons for a long time. The first major one was the German SD-2, also called the Butterfly Bomb. This was used during World War II. During that war, cluster bombs were used in places like Tokyo and Kyushu. The United States, Russia, and Italy all developed this technology on their own.

In the Vietnam War, many thousands of tons of these bomblets were dropped. Some were even used to start fires with materials like napalm.

There are many different types of these weapons. Some use shaped charges to pierce the armor on tanks. Others are incendiary, which means they are made to start fires.

One special type is the CBU-94/B. This weapon was used in the Kosovo War in 1999. It releases fine wires to break electric power lines. In Serbia, it knocked out 70% of the power supply.

These weapons pose a big risk to people. Many bomblets do not explode when they hit the ground. This failure rate can be as high as 40 percent.

This means they stay on the ground like hidden traps. They can hurt civilians long after a war ends. Because of this, many countries follow the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This rule was adopted in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008. As of February 2022, 123 states have joined this agreement.

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.