External Research

Armament Research Services (ARES)

“The 9N24 is a high explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) submunition weighing 7.45 kg. It contains 1.45 kg of A-IX-2 explosive composition (73% RDX, 23% powdered aluminium, 4% wax phlegmatiser) surrounded by 18 partially pre-fragmented fragmentation rings, generating approximately 316 fragments upon detonation. The 9N24 is fitted with the 9E237 impact fuze, which is armed as the submunitions are expelled from the warhead. The fuze is designed to function on impact with the ground or other hard surfaces, at any angle between 25 and 90 degrees. This fuze also features a self-destruct function, which should ensure that the submunition explodes 32–60 seconds after being deployed from the cargo warhead. … Note that these submunitions are sometimes described using the Russian initialism ‘ОБЭ’ (‘OBE’), referring to the term ‘осколочный боевой элемент’ (‘fragmentation combat element’).”