This is not the first year that a cluster bomb has been a prohibited weapon in more than a hundred countries of the world. At one of the world conferences in Dublin, diplomats of many states approved a preliminary agreement on the complete ban and disposal of this type of weapon.
The project called for stopping existing production and destroying all cluster bombs from arsenals around the world. According to the discussion and the signed documentation, all stocks had to be destroyed within 8 years. However, the agreement of political representatives was never fully implemented. Today there is the possibility of creating advanced bomb models. According to the plan, they will have a smaller radius of destruction and will not pose a threat to the civilian population.
The cluster bomb is one of the favorite types of weapons in the United States, Russia and China, so these countries are opposed to an international agreement on the complete disposal and stopping of current production. This is not surprising, because the designated powers are the owners of the largest and most powerful specimens.
A cluster bomb is a rather massive shell that is launched from the air and bursts above the target, scattering all the striking elements over long distances. This is precisely what served as the fundamental factor for the prohibition of production: the radius of destruction is too large. Very often, its use destroyed not only the target itself, but also nearby objects. There are cases when some elements
falling to the ground, did not burst. But they retain their fighting ability for several years.
The cluster bomb contains various types of ammunition, many small mines and fragments. A large number of small-caliber fillings are divided into three main types. The bulk is assigned to fragmentation elements equipped with instant fuses. Their use is aimed at the destruction of machines, any types of equipment or structures.
But this is only a small internal content of the shell. The cluster bomb is equipped with anti-tank mines. The cumulative charge burns through armor up to 300 mm. Considering that many combat vehicles have fairly little protection, the aforementioned type of weapons is capable of destroying entire columns of infantry equipment, even if they are well armored. In this case, all living things die, and the equipment fails.
The uniqueness of cluster bombs lies in the fact that they not only have charges of instant action, but also fragmentation munitions. Dropping such shells into open territory, the military will mine an object in a matter of minutes. Usually they are used for transport and air routes to cut off the path of advancement.
The installation differs not only in power and internal composition, but also in the method of use. The overall design is divided into non-dropable and dropable unguided bombs.
No matter how exciting the history of cluster devices may sound, this type of weapon is a threat. Due to the large radius of action, not only the intended target, but also the civilian population is exposed to danger.