201–300 of 532
Analyst Note:
This image shows an AR731-4000 Wankel-type engine produced by UAV Engines Ltd. of the United Kingdom, used in an Israeli Harop munition. Variants of the Harop used in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War featured a similar Wankel engine, but were marked to indicate a different manufacturer and model name: “MBT ENGINE” and “H2251-5100-503”, respectively. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the remnants of a SkyStriker one-way attack UAV, manufactured by Elbit Systems of Israel. The SkyStriker can be fitted with various warhead options, including dual-purpose warheads weighing 5 or 10 kilograms. While it appears that a reconstruction was attempted with the remnants, the placement of the various components does not accurately represent an intact SkyStriker. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a remnant of the BSU-60 A/B tail fin. This this model of tail fin is used exclusively with AGM-88 series missiles. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a fragment of the “inner petal assembly” of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system’s ‘Talon’ interceptor missile. The part number for the assembly (“23917ASSY1A62803-101 REV.E / E”), Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) code (“07554”), manufacturer abbreviation (“CTL”), and serial number (“S/N DDLKD”) are visible. This CAGE code and manufacturer abbreviation are associated with CTL Aerospace Inc, a subcontractor for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the THAAD system. It is not uncommon for complex munitions to be made by several different manufacturers, and thus multiple CAGE codes may be present as a result of the various subcontractors. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the section just forward of the Tamir missile’s forward fins and appears to incorporate the base of the active radar seeker (open end) and the laser proximity sensor part of the warhead fuzing system (mirrors/glass & opening in the casing). While the Tamir has been reported to physically impact some targets, the proximity fuze is designed to closely pass by the target, then detonate the high explosive fragmentation warhead thereby destroying the target. ‘Tamir’ is a Hebrew acronym for Til Meyaret, or ‘interceptor missile’. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
This image shows the fuzewell in the base of the warhead of a GBU-39 air-delivered bomb. The innermost cylinder is the electronic fuze; this is held in place by the closure ring. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a 9M22S rocket with some of its unfunctioned payload of 180 ML-5 incendiary elements. Each ML-5 is a hexagonal prism formed from a hollow shell of magnesium that is filled with an incendiary composition. These elements are ignited by the ejection charge of the rocket’s warhead upon functioning. Two fuzes are also visible at the bottom of the image, immediately above and below the ruler. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a fragment of the wing assembly of a Paveway bomb guidance kit. The data plate, though damaged, provides additional information about the munition. A partial Commercial and Government Entity code (CAGE; “ …14”), manufacturing part number (MFG SKU; “872127-1”), National Stock Number (NSN; “...5-01-141-5890”), serial number (Serial NO; 15-005326), and date of manufacture (“…MFR. 10/15”) are visible. This data can be used to look-up the component and determine that this specific fragment is from a Paveway II guidance kit intended for use with a MK 82-series 500-pound-class air-delivered bomb. This bomb and guidance kit combination is referred to as the GBU-12. The CAGE code, although partial, is enough to determine that this specific kit was produced by Raytheon, rather than the other known manufacturer of the Paveway kits, Lockheed Martin. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a fragment of the wing assembly of a Paveway kit, compatible with a MK 82 500-pound-class air-delivered bomb. (“..R USE ON MK82”). The National Stock Number (NSN; “1325-01-5453531”) indicates that this is a Paveway IV bomb guidance kit. There are variants of Paveway guidance kits compatible with all MK 80-series bombs, as well as other bombs such as the 5,000-pound-class BLU-113 penetrator. Paveway bomb guidance kits use laser guidance, and are more precise than JDAM guidance kits. Some variants of the Paveway kit, such as the ‘Enhanced’ series feature GPS and INS guidance in addition to laser guidance. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows part of the SUU-66 dispenser (sometimes called a ‘shell’) that forms part of a CBU-105 D/B cluster bomb unit. In U.S. service, a ‘cluster bomb unit’ designation includes both the dispenser or shell, as well as the payload.
The CBU-105 series of cluster munitions consists of CBU-97-series munitions that are modified with a WCMD (Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser) guidance kit. Both CBU-97 and CBU-105 series munitions are made-up of an SUU-66 dispenser filled with 10 BLU-108 submunitions. Each BLU-108 submunition contains 4 ‘skeet’ warheads that are ejected mid-air and independently seek out targets using an infrared sensor. A single skeet weighs 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) and contains a copper explosively formed penetrator (EFP) for armour penetration that is surrounded by a fragmentation ring offering some anti-personnel effect. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows a North Korean 120 mm high explosive (HE) mortar projectile next to an Iranian 120 mm HE mortar projectile. Despite both being the same calibre, the overall shapes and dimensions of the two projectiles are noticeably different. Factors such as payload weight and range can be affected significantly by projectile shape. (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:
Whilst relatively little is known about Burmese air-delivered bombs from publicly available sources, researchers (including those at ARES and Myanmar Witness) have been collecting evidence based on munitions’ physical features and markings. Combined with information from confidential sources, this has allowed for the tentative identification of several models. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The M712 ‘Copperhead’ is a laser-guided 155 mm artillery gun projectile carrying a high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead designed to engage armoured vehicles. The Copperhead was developed in the United States in the 1970s, and saw limited use during Operation Desert Storm. The M712 is is pictured here inside its shipping container, and the slots for the enclosed, deployable (‘pop-out’) wings and fins are visible. The M712 has two operational modes: a ballistic mode that follows a gun’s ballistic trajectory like a traditional artillery projectile, and a glide mode, which follows a longer and flatter trajectory. The preferred mode is set by the artillery crew before firing. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The two North Korean 120 mm high explosive (HE) mortar projectiles in this image are each fitted with five cloth bags affixed above the tailfins. These are incremental propellant charges (sometimes known as augmenting, auxiliary, or supplemental charges), the number of which can be varied along with a mortar’s elevation to adjust the trajectory and range of the munition when fired. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows two Iranian 130 mm high explosive (HE) artillery gun projectiles. Calibre (“130MM”) and functional type (“HE - TNT”) markings are visible on the right-hand example, whilst a lot marking (“LOT:10/202[…]”) is partially obscured. The “TNT” marking indicates that this munition uses a trinitrotoluene composition as its explosive fill. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows an Iranian 122 mm high explosive (HE) artillery gun projectile. Like several other munitions, it is described in Iranian sources—and, in this case, on the munition itself—only by reference to the weapon with which it is most often associated: the Soviet-designed 122 mm D-30 howitzer (often rendered ‘D30’, without the hyphen, in Iranian service). This munition is also marked to indicate it was produced in 2023. Interpreting munitions markings in this way, especially where they indicate recent manufacture, may provide evidence of ongoing supply during a conflict. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
The munition indicated in this image as a 152 mm high explosive (HE) artillery gun projectile manufactured in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows part of the warhead section of an MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) series tactical ballistic missile. This is the top of the warhead section, where it connects to the guidance section. A data plate is visible, giving information about the manufacturer (“Lockheed Martin Vought Systems”) and identifying this specific part (“WARHEAD, GUIDED MISSILE. HIGH EXPLOSIVE”. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
This image shows an SUU-30H/B, an air-delivered dispenser which can be configured to carry different submunition payloads. These can include 217 BLU-61 A/B, 650 BLU-63/B, or 650 BLU-86/B or BLU-86 A/B. The munition can also carry inert payloads. The specific combination of payload and dispenser determines the ‘Cluster Bomb Unit’ (CBU) designation, with SUU-30H/B dispensers being paired with different payloads to form the CBU-58 and CBU-71 series. Contextual information suggests that this dispenser was part of a CBU-58/B cluster munition, but this cannot be established from an assessment of this image alone. (ARES)
Analyst Note:
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)
Analyst Note:
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)
