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.
Munitions that are delivered from above the surface of the earth, typically from an aerial vehicle, and designed to strike surface-based targets — whether on land or at sea.
This image shows a munition shortly before impact. While the quality of the image is not high enough to conclusively identify the munition, remnants of a Storm Shadow/SCALP EG missile were recovered following this strike, supporting a more precise identification.
Whilst Saudi Arabia has denied conducting this strike, and the Yemeni Army has claimed responsibility, Saudi Arabia is known to possess Storm Shadow/SCALP EG missiles and the capability to deploy them, whereas the Yemeni Army is not known to possess or use this weapon. (ARES)
Highlighted are four GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) guided air-delivered bombs loaded onto the belly of a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. The GBU-31-series consists of a 2,000-pound-class bomb (Mk 84, BLU-109, or BLU-109A/B) and a guidance kit comprising a tail unit with four articulating fins and a guidance control unit with inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS) functions. The GBU-31 munitions seen here are built around the BLU-109, a penetrator munition with a solid nose and a thicker, one-piece body which flares slightly at the base. It has no body welds; the heavy steel base plate is held in place by an equally robust threaded steel closure ring. The BLU-109 is painted olive drab with a single yellow band towards the nose. (ARES)
This image shows an AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missile. The AGM-114R2 is an enhanced version of the the AGM-114R multi-role missile, which is designed to engage a wide variety of targets. The Hellfire R-series missile are equipped with a multi-purpose warhead that can engage armoured or unarmoured vehicles on land or sea, as well as personnel in the open or in buildings. Reports indicate that the AGM-114R2 features improvements to its guidance software and tracking to increase accuracy against moving targets, as well as incorporating an adjustable height-of-burst (HOB) capability which allows it to detonate at a pre-determined height above the ground. (ARES)
A BLU-91/B GATOR anti-vehicle landmine is seen in this image, with the remains of an aeroballistic adaptor visible. BLU-91/B mines can be deployed from cluster bombs or from vehicle-mounted dispensers, however the presence of the square aeroballistic adaptor here indicates that this example was deployed from an air-delivered cluster bomb. (ARES)
This image depicts what appears to be a WDU-42/B penetrator warhead as used in the AGM-158 JASSM series of missiles. The WDU-42/B is a 1,000-pound-class blast/fragmentation penetrator warhead designed to destroy hardened or reinforced targets. At the rear of the warhead, an FMU-156/B fuze is visible. This fuze is pre-programmed before launch according to the type of intended target. (ARES)
Positive identification of the model of air-delivered bomb to which the UMPK kit is fitted cannot be made from the source imagery. Based on the size of the UMPK and historical use in the area, it is likely an OFAB-250-270 model. (ARES)
This image of an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft operating during the conflict with Iran was released by U.S. Central Command. The munitions indicated are built around the ‘stores suspension and release item unit’ (SUU) series of containers used as the outer casings of several cluster munitions. In this case, the image may be associated with the use of BLU-91/B scatterable anti-tank mines in Iran. These would be delivered by the CBU-78/B or CBU-89/B air-delivered bombs, which can incorporate the Lockheed Martin Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD), although the distinctive tail elements needed to ID the latter are not visible here. (ARES)
The component shown in this image is a GPS antenna for the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM). It is marked to indicate its manufacturer (“Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.”; now operating as BAE Systems’ Space & Mission Systems division) and with other key information, including a part number and contract number. (ARES)
Photos released by the Israeli Air Force show an F-16 aircraft carrying two 2,000-pound-class air-delivered bombs fitted with Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits. Whilst the bomb body is visually similar to a MK 84 general-purpose aerial bomb, the marking scheme is distinctly different. The combination of yellow and red bands most likely indicates both a high explosive and incendiary payload. This is consistent with the marking scheme applied to specialised U.S. munitions intended for use against chemical and biological weapons targets. The best known of these is the BLU-119/B CrashPAD ('Prompt Agent Defeat'), which uses a MK 84 bomb body and contains 170 lbs of PBX-109 and 420 lbs of white phosphorus. It is not clear if agent defeat weapons were ever exported to Israel, or if a local analogue was developed. Capabilities of this type often remain classified. (ARES)
Shown is the Russian Kh-69 (marked in Cyrillic: “Х-69”) cruise missile which was debuted at a Russian arms show in August 2022, and entered into active military service the following year. The Kh-69 was reportedly first used in combat in February 2024, engaging Ukrainian targets. The more compact design when compared with previous Russian missiles results in a smaller radar signature, which is further reduced by the trapezoidal form factor. The Kh-69 is classed by the Russian military as a ‘stealth cruise missile’ and carries either a penetrator or cluster (submunitions) warhead. (ARES)
