Analyst Note:
The PF69-40 HEI warhead contains approximately 900 pieces of spherical steel fragmentation (‘ball bearings’) as well as 2,000–3,000 incendiary pellets that scatter over a 15 m radius on detonation. (ARES)
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Blast Munition
Use the rapid expansion of gases released by a detonating high explosive compound inside the munition to generate explosive power. Blast munitions are often considered general-purpose munitions and large examples can have powerful and widespread effects on targets such as structures and personnel.
Analyst Note:
The items highlighted in this image are Vietnamese 70 mm B40 recoilless gun projectiles. The B40 HE is an anti-personnel munition that is fired from the Vietnamese B40 recoilless gun, a copy of the Soviet RPG-2. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
Based on design features and an estimation of the munition’s apparent size relative to the personnel handling it, this image appears to show a 122 mm surface-to-surface rocket fitted with a high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) warhead, although the specific model and country of origin are unclear. In Sudan there have been reports of Russian, Chinese, and domestically produced (Taka-02) 122 mm rockets being used. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The tank visible in the background of the image appears to be a Chinese VT-4 (MBT-3000) model. The VT-4 is manufactured by Norinco and is intended primarily for export. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the launch of an Iranian Paveh surface-to-surface cruise missile in Iraq. The munition was fired by Iranian proxy forces and reportedly targeting Israel. Some sources indicate the Paveh has been renamed the ‘Jamal-10’, whilst others claim it is being locally produced in Iraq by Iranian proxy forces. With an estimated 75% of the missile’s components coming from outside Iran, distributed production is certainly possible. The missile has two large wings located forward of the munition’s midpoint, three smaller fins towards the tail, and four actuated fins around the tail. The initial launch is accomplished with a solid-propellant rocket motor, which gives way to a turbo jet flight motor mounted on top of the missile, towards the tail. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the ‘manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle’ (MaRV; a detachable, steerable payload section) of an Iranian ballistic missile loaded with submunitions. It appears there are three different models of submunition loaded into the MaRV (black, blue, and red). The black and blue submunitions are most likely anti-personnel designs, whilst the red submunitions (indicated by a red box) are likely designed with penetrating or shaped-charge warheads to target vehicles or structures. Some submunitions may utilise time-delay fuzing, allowing for random detonations over several hours or days to hamper clearance efforts, denying use of the afflicted area. Reports have shown Iran has used ballistic missiles with mixed submunition loads, and suggest that this type of warhead can scatter its payload up to a radius of 8 km. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a screenshot from one of the videos released by the Kuwait Civil Aviation showing a one-way attack (OWA) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) striking the Kuwait International Airport. The munition’s distinctive delta-wing configuration and general size, shape, and manner of flight are consistent with the Shahed series of OWA UAVs. The related entry shows a Mado MD550 engine recovered following this strike, a model used to power the Shahed-136 series, enabling a more precise identification. (ARES)
