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Fragmentation Munition
Fragmentation munitions use the detonation of an explosive to propel small fragments of material (‘fragmentation’) from the body of the munition at high velocity. A fragmentation munition typically affects a wider area than a simple blast munition of the same size, and is effective against personnel and unarmoured vehicles. Fragmentation is the primary mechanism of lethality for many common explosive munitions, but these munitions almost invariably also affect their environment through blast and other mechanisms (e.g., a high explosive fragmentation munition).
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Rocket or Missile
Rockets and missiles are two closely related types of powered munitions which utilise an internal propulsion method, typically a rocket motor, to maintain their rate of travel after launch. Rockets and missiles are typically relatively long and thin—with lengths ranging from 50 centimetres to 6.5 metres. Rockets are unguided those fitted with guidance systems are usually referred to as missiles. Missiles sometimes use propulsion methods other than rocket motors, such as turbojets. The effective range of rockets varies from as little as one kilometre to more than 40 kilometres, while missiles typically have a longer range — some more than 250 kilometres.
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Analyst Note:
The munition in this image has been integrated into a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) small UAV. This UAV (‘drone’) adds powered and guided delivery and converts the munition into a guided missile—regardless of the original, intended delivery method. (ARES)
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The JROF and JROF-K are Czech derivatives of the Soviet 122 mm ‘Grad’ series of surface-to-surface rockets. The JROF-K is the shorter, reduced-range variant, broadly analogous to the Soviet 9M22M. (ARES)
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This image shows three different warheads developed by Russia for the Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), each of which differ from the original warhead designed by Iran for the Shahed-136. Left: A thermobaric explosive warhead; Middle: TBBCh-50M, a thermobaric explosive warhead; Right: OFZBCh-50, a high explosive warhead with an incendiary effect. Each of these warheads is also fitted with a fragmentation liner to increase the fragmentation effect generated when the warhead detonates. Some of the fragmentation liners may contain zirconium, a metal which is ignited when the warhead detonates, providing an additional incendiary effect. (ARES)
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This image and the related entries show fragments of an AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) series missile. AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles are AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missiles (SLAM) that incorporate certain upgrades, including wings to increase the missile's range. The AGM-84 series include the anti-ship ‘Harpoon’ variants, from which the SLAM and SLAM-ER series are derived. As a result, many remnants will be similar or identical between variants. The wing remnant here is diagnostic, however. (ARES)
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This image shows the rear fin section that is attached to a M-302/Khaibar-1/Fadi series rockets to add guidance capabilities. This rear fin section is installed, along with a forward control section between the warhead and the rocket motor. The guided munition, now classified as a missile, is referred to as a Nasr-1/Nasr-2. A similar, but larger, rear fin section is fitted to Zelzal rockets to convert them to guided munitions. (ARES).
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This image shows a fragment of a RGM/UGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) series missile's WDU-36/B warhead. The WDU-36/B warhead is a penetrator warhead for the TLAM, and is one of several available warhead options for TLAM series missiles. The complete "WDU" designation isn't visible, but the part number (3123AS921) is associated with the WDU-36/B. (ARES)
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This image shows the rocket motor of a Kheibar Shekan or Fattah-1 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). The Fattah-1 was publicly unveiled by Iran in June 2023, with very few images surfacing since that time. Due to the lack of available reference material, differentially identifying the Kheibar Shekan and Fattah-1 is difficult. The missile components displayed at unveilings and public displays are also often different from those used in production models. (ARES).
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This image shows the copper cone of the shaped charge located at the front of the warhead fitted to a Shahed-131. The Ukrainian armed forces have recorded that the cone measures 111 mm in diameter and 162 mm in depth. The warhead is lined with cubic pre-formed fragments of 7 mm in diameter. The explosive content of the warhead is estimated to be between 10 and 15 kg. (ARES)
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This image shows an RGM-109-series Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) being launched from the USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), a Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. The RGM/UGM-109 TLAM series are surface-to-surface missiles. The ‘R’ and ‘U’ in RGM and UGM, respectively, denote the intended launch platform, with ‘R’ denoting surface platforms, such as ships, and ‘U’ denoting subsurface platforms, such as submarines. (ARES)
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This image shows a relatively intact Shahed-131 one-way-attack (OWA) UAV with various components highlighted, including the GPS antenna array (light blue), fuselage (light purple), engine (yellow), wing stabiliser (orange), and nose cone (cyan, inside the red box). The nose cone attaches to the front of the fuselage and covers the warhead. (ARES)
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This image shows a remnant of the aft motor section, which includes the venturi nozzle, of a North Korean KN-23/KN-24/Hwasong-11 series missile. The KN-23/KN-24/Hwasong-11 has a generally similar appearance to the Russian 9M7 ‘Iskander’ series of ballistic missiles, but has differences in performance and in some aspects of the construction. (ARES)
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These images show a damaged Serat-01 engine which powers the Shahed-131 drone after its rocket-assisted launch. The Serat-01 is a copy of the MDR 208 engine, and is noticeably smaller than the MD550 which powers the larger Shahed-136. (ARES)
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This image shows the BSF-50, one of several warheads developed by Russia for the Shahed-136/Geran-2 to replace the original Shahed-136 warhead designed by Iran. The BSF-50 is a high explosive warhead with a fragmentation effect. (ARES)
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Two R-77 air-to-air missiles (NATO reporting name: AA-12 Adder) are carried in this photograph by a Russian Aerospace Forces Sukhoi Su-35 fighter aircraft. Key markings, including the aircraft’s bort number (a coloured numeral that acts as a unit or base identifier), have been digitally obscured. (ARES)
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This image shows an Israeli Air Force F-16 carrying four Rampage air-to-ground missiles. The Rampage is a 580 kg (1,278 lb) missile with GPS and INS guidance. It carries a multi-purpose warhead that is designed for engaging a range of targets in the open as well as offering some degree of penetration. (ARES)
2 Analyst Notes:
This image shows one of several possible warhead variants that can be carried by the Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way attack (OWA) UAV. The Shahed-136/Geran-2 (and the smaller Shahed-131/Geran-1) has been documented carrying shaped-charge warheads, penetrator warheads, and multi-function warheads. Due to the various warheads that can be carried by a Shahed/Geran drone, the functional use cannot be determined without the warhead being visible. In this case, the munition was fitted with a TBBCh-50M warhead that contains a thermobaric explosive composition with an additional fragmentation effect. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
Shahed-131/Geran-1 and Shahed-136/Geran-2 one-way-attack (OWA) UAVs can be fitted with on of a variety of warheads with different functional uses. The specific type carried by each UAV cannot be determined unless the munition has been damaged in such a way as to reveal the warhead, such as in this case. This image shows the cone of the shaped charge, indicating that this Shahed-1/Geran-1 carries a warhead with a penetrating or anti-armour effect. This warhead has been documented with 18 additional liners for enhanced anti-armour effect, and in some cases has been fitted with fragmentation liners for an enhanced anti-personnel effect. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
Whilst there are no visible markings explicitly identifying the model of the 122 mm rockets in this image, they are sitting atop a box marked “R-122” and exhibit physical features consistent with North Korean R-122 rockets. It should be noted that rockets marked with the generic “R-122” model name have been observed in both ‘long’ and ‘short’ overall lengths and painted in different colours. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This 9M27K-series surface-to-surface cargo rocket is loaded with either 9N210 or 9N235 high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) submunitions. These models are nearly identical in construction, differing primarily in the nature of the pre-formed fragments they carry. (ARES)
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The internal components of large, complex munitions often feature markings to aid in assembly, supply chain oversight, and quality assurance. In this case, a data plate marked with the name of the manufacturer (“MBDA FRANCE”) has been affixed to one of the rear control fins (“EQ, VENTRAL, FIN TIP”) of the missile. The NATO Stock Number (NSN) is also visible. (ARES)
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This image shows an actuator from a Storm Shadow-series missile. Actuators are components of guided munitions that are most often used to move control surfaces (e.g., fins and wings), enabling the munition to adjust its course in-flight in response to guidance commands. In this case, the component is fitted with a ‘data plate’ that indicates it was manufactured by MBDA France. (ARES)
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This image shows a Microturbo TRI 60-30 turbojet engine from a Storm Shadow-series air-launched cruise missile. Further remnants of the rear of the missile are also visible, including one of the rear control fins. The Storm Shadow has a range of more than 250 kilometres. (ARES)
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This image shows the rear of the second stage of the penetrator warhead (also called a ‘follow-through’ warhead) of the Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge (BROACH) multi-stage warhead system present in the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missile. The cylindrical object in the centre of the warhead (with a data plate marked “THALES”) is the fuze. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the first stage of the Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge (BROACH) multi-stage warhead used by the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG missile. The BROACH uses a shaped-charge warhead (seen here) as its first stage, to help penetrate hardened targets, whilst the second stage comprises a conventional high explosive penetrator warhead (also called a ‘follow-through’ warhead) (ARES).
Analyst Note:
The remnant at left in this image is the second stage, or penetrator warhead, of the Bomb Royal Ordnance Augmented Charge (BROACH) multi-stage warhead as used in the Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG air-launched cruise missile. In this case, it has failed to function as intended. (ARES)
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This image shows part of a heavy-duty suspension lug associated with the Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile. This is made clear from dot-peened markings which include “STORM SHADOW USE ONLY” and identifiers such as a NATO Stock Number (NSN). (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The munitions remnant on the left of this image is part of a suspension lug associated with the Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile, which is used to attach the munition to an aircraft. This component is of heavy construction, and as such often survives the missile’s functioning intact. This photograph purports to show remnants recovered from a Storm Shadow missile that was fired by Ukrainian forces into Russian territory, but this claim cannot be verified from the image alone. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
These R-122 ‘Grad’-type 122 mm surface-to-surface rockets were produced in North Korea. The example to the right is fitted with an F-122 impact fuze. Whilst a two-tone colour scheme is more common amongst those North Korean Grad rockets thus far identified in the context of the Ukraine conflict (these typically featuring a black forward section), uniformly coloured examples like this have also been identified previously. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The 9M27K3 surface-to-surface rocket is fitted with the 9N128K3 cargo warhead (seen here). This warhead carries a payload of 312 PFM-1 or PFM-1S scatterable anti-personnel landmines. (ARES)
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The 9Н123К (9N123K) cargo warhead is delivered by a 9М79К (9M79K) series surface-to-surface guided missile. This cluster munition carries fifty 9Н24 (9N24) high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) submunitions, and is launched from the 9К79 Tochka series of tactical ballistic missile launchers. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
A 9N24 submunition is visible to the left of the 9N123K warhead in this image. This high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) submunition is marked to indicate it was produced in 1989 and filled with A-IX-2 explosive composition. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows most of the forward half of a Tamir surface-to-air missile, including the guidance section and warhead, as fired by launchers in the Iron Dome system. These interceptor missiles are fast and manoeuvrable with a relatively small explosive payload. Their construction and low yield means that remnants are often recovered largely intact. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The crude launch arrangement depicted in this photograph shows the ease with which many simple rocket designs can be launched. Weapons such as this are used where precision fire is not a requirement; i.e., where the target might be a whole compound, neighbourhood, or settlement, rather than a specific building or vehicle. (ARES)
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These are munition debris images released by the Israel Defence Forces and are not necessarily in situ. (Airwars)
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These are munition debris images released by the Israel Defence Forces and are not necessarily in situ. (Airwars)
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These are munition debris images released by the Israel Defence Forces and are not necessarily in situ. (Airwars)
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This image shows the nosecone from an Israeli Tamir surface-to-air missile. This component is often found as a remnant after the functioning of the missile. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) is derived from the AGM-114 Hellfire series of air-to-surface missiles—and thus shares physical characteristics in terms of general construction, including rear fin placement. The marked weight of 52.0 kg (115 lbs) is generally believed to be an indicator that the rocket motor is from a JAGM; however, remnants marked with this weight have been observed from several years before the JAGM was initially fielded. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
‘Khaibar-1’ is a designation given to a series of 302 mm rockets produced in Syria, possibly derived from the Chinese WS-1/WS-1B. The Khaibar-1 is also referred to as the M-302 or M302. (ARES)
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This Iranian copy of the Chinese Type 63 107 mm rocket is marked with a red stripe and text to indicate it is of the high explosive incendiary (“H.E.I”) type. Markings also show that it was produced in 2007. (ARES)
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The Tamir Interceptor is the missile fired from Israel’s Iron Dome defence system to intercept incoming rockets, missiles, projectiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (‘drones’). The Tamir uses a warhead with a relatively small explosive yield, which typically results in the guidance section, nosecone, and (spent) rocket motor falling to the ground relatively intact after functioning. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
107mm spin-stabilized rockets of this design are often utilized by non-state actors in an indirect fire role. Like the original Chinese models that they are copied from, they do not require more than a simple electric power source and a rudimentary launch platform to achieve an acceptable level of accuracy. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The 57E6 series of missiles fired from the 96K6 Pantsir system use a two-stage design that is unusual for surface-to-air missiles of this type. The remnant seen in this image is part of the missile’s booster section, which accelerates the second stage to a high velocity before separating. The booster section uses a distinctive toffee-brown, filament-wound composite body. (ARES)
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This image features both delivered (the two left-most munitions) and undelivered munitions of the same model.
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These S-25-O air-to-surface rockets are each loaded into a single-barrelled O-25 rocket launcher (sometimes called a 'launch tube' or 'rocket pod') that is affixed to an aircraft hardpoint. The over-calibre high explosive fragmentation warhead (of 420 mm in diameter) protrudes from the front of the tube. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The AGM-88 High-Speed-Anti-Radiation-Missile (HARM) is an air-to-surface anti-radiation guided missile that seeks and destroys radar-based air-defence systems by detecting radar emissions, locking on to these, and using them to home in on a target. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a remnant of the control section from a 9M83-series surface-to-air missile. The 9M83 is launched by the Russian S-300V air defence system. The system and its missile have received the NATO designation ‘SA-12A Gladiator’. Missiles launched by air defence systems are often referred to by the name of the respective complete platform, rather than the specific model of the missile itself. For example, ‘S-300’ or ‘S-300V’ rather than ‘9M83’. (ARES)
