Key features defining the operation mechanisms of a projectile
Mechanical Feature (10)
Whether a munition is guided or unguided
Guidance (2)
Where the munition is launched from and what it targets
Domain (7)
The type of fins visible on the munition
Fins Characteristic (6)
The nominal diameter of a projectile. For most modern munitions, this is expressed in millimetres (e.g. 82 mm mortar projectile), but older artillery gun projectiles may be described in inches.
A munition that has been employed—e.g., fired, dropped, or launched—from a delivery platform. The munition may have either functioned or failed to function.
This image shows a Mk 104 Dual Thrust Rocket Motor (DTRM), the second-stage rocket motor for the SM-2, SM-3 Blk I, and SM-6 missiles. Based on the strakes or fins attached to this Mk 104, it can be determined that it was part of an SM-3 Blk I series missile. (ARES)
This image provides a close-up view of the bottom of the MK 136 Third Stage Rocket Motor section from a RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Blk I guided missile. The integral warm gas/cold gas attitude control system, including its four venturis, is visible. (ARES)
This image shows the MK 136 Third Stage Rocket Motor of a U.S. RIM-161 Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) Blk I interceptor missile. The SM-3 Blk I variants share the same propulsion sections, but have differences in the kill vehicle section. The SM-3 Blk II variants are substantially different, including new, larger-diameter propulsion sections. SM-3 missiles have a booster, dual-thrust rocket motor, third-stage rocket motor, and an altitude control section in the kill vehicle. (ARES)
This image depicts remnants from a M999 (‘Barak Eitan’) 155 mm cluster munition. Reports indicate that the M999 artillery projectile carries nine M99 Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munition (DPICM) submunitions. (ARES)
This image shows a one-way attack (OWA) UAV fitted with a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead adapted from a PG-7 series recoilless gun projectile. (ARES)
This sheet-metal body component is marked with a manufacturer’s CAGE Code (“MFR-59518”) which indicates it was produced by GlenDee Corp. of Moorpark, California, which does business as Metalagraphics, Inc. (MGI). (ARES)
Moog Inc.—headquartered in East Aurora, New York, as marked on this munitions remnant—describes itself as a “worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems”. Moog supplies actuator and control components to the prime contractor on the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) programme, Raytheon. (ARES)
This guided munition is built around a sacrificial DJI Avata-series UAV that has been fitted with an improvised explosive device (IED). From front to back, it consists of an impact switch made from a syringe, the main charge (yellow/white material in a plastic bag), and a battery that acts as the power source. While crudely made, it is probably still functional. (ARES)
The physical features of this munition indicate that it is most likely an Iranian 60 mm ‘high explosive, long-range’ (“H.E. L.R.”) mortar projectile fitted with an AZ111A2 impact fuze. However, positive identification cannot be made based on the source imagery. (ARES)
The munition depicted in this image is a type of aerodynamically optimised artillery projectile, in this case 155 mm in calibre, known as an ‘Extended Range Full-Bore (ERFB)’ design. This example is a cargo projectile fitted with a base-bleed (BB) base unit to further extend its range. This configuration is designated NR269, and reportedly contains 56 M46 dual-purpose (anti-personnel/anti-armour) submunitions. (ARES)
This image shows the base of a 155 mm Extended Range Full-Bore (ERFB) projectile, fitted with either a base-bleed (BB) or a base-bleed, rocket-assisted (BB/RA) base unit. Although munitions of this type are capable of carrying submunitions and this image is associated with an incident about which claims of cluster munitions use have been made, there is not enough of the projectile visible in the source images to determine what type of payload was carried by this particular round. (ARES)
This image shows the rear section of a Hydra-70 rocket. The Hydra-70 uses the MK 66 series of rocket motors, visible here, but can be fitted with at least 11 different warheads. They can also be fitted with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) ‘bolt-on’ guidance kit, converting an unguided rocket into a guided missile. From the available imagery, it is not clear with which warhead or guidance section this munition may have been fitted. (ARES)
This image shows the venturi and tailfin assembly from a 57 mm S-5 series rocket. The S-5 series of rockets are commonly used around the world in a variety of roles, including air-to-surface and surface-to-surface. Unfortunately, from this image alone the specific model and country of origin cannot be determined. (ARES)
This munition remnant is marked with a manufacturer’s CAGE Code (“MFR-05DN8”) which indicates it was produced by Klune Industries. Klune Industries is a sub-contractor on the GMLRS contract. (ARES)
This munition remnant is marked with a manufacturer’s CAGE Code (“MFR-62313”) which indicates it was produced by Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin is the primary contractor that makes GMLRS missiles. (ARES)
This image shows a remnant from an American M30 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System(GMLRS) missile, which carries M77/M101 submunitions. The yellow diamond markings indicate a payload of explosive submunitions. (ARES)
This munition remnant is marked with a manufacturer’s CAGE Code (“MFR-57413”) which indicates it was produced by the Maine Machine Products Company, a sub-contractor on the GMLRS contract. (ARES)
Based on the tail-fin assembly design and relative size, the item pictured appears to be a 122 mm rocket. However, it is unclear if this image shows a Russian 9M22-series (‘Grad’) rocket, a Chinese Type 81 rocket, or a similar variant from a different country of origin. (ARES)
This images appears to show the remnants of a 122 mm rocket. It is unclear what the country of origin is, but it is most likely a 9M22-series or Type 81-series rocket. (ARES)
This image shows the damaged rocket motor section of a ballistic missile that was fired by the Houthis in Yemen towards Israel and likely intercepted. The Houthis employ ballistic missiles that are supplied by Iran, and given different names. In Houthi service, the Iranian Kheibar Shekan missile is known as the Hatem-2. (ARES)
This image shows remnants of a Russian Kh-101 air-launched cruise missile. The remnant on the right is the rearmost tail section of the missile. (ARES)
This image shows a remnant of the TRDD-50A(M) (ТРДД-50А(M)) turbojet engine, which powers Kh-101 and Kh-59M missiles. Other models of Russian cruise missiles are known to use other variants of the TRDD-50. (ARES)
