Iran’s Cluster Missile: How It Works and Why It’s Being Used Now
In recent days, unusual videos circulating online have shown what appear to be clusters of small glowing objects streaking across the night sky, sparking both curiosity and concern among the public.
Those images reflect a new security reality after Iranian barrages that included this type of missile struck central Israel. The attacks reportedly caused direct impacts and injuries from shrapnel in locations including Petach Tikvah and Tel Aviv.
The weapon involved is a ballistic missile equipped with a cluster warhead. Unlike a conventional missile that carries a single large explosive payload, this type of missile is designed to break apart during flight and release numerous smaller explosive units.
The process occurs high above the ground. At an altitude of roughly seven kilometers, the missile’s warhead opens and releases approximately twenty smaller submunitions. These small bombs then spread over a wide area, potentially covering a zone that can reach a diameter of up to sixteen kilometers from the point where the missile splits apart.
The glowing appearance seen in videos is caused by intense heat created as the submunitions pass through the atmosphere. Friction with the air generates bright light until the objects cool somewhat before reaching the ground.
Iran’s decision to deploy these missiles at this stage of the conflict appears to stem from both technological limitations and operational considerations.
One reason is that the weapon helps compensate for the relatively poor accuracy of some older Iranian missile systems, such as the Imad and Qadr missiles, which can miss their intended targets by more than a kilometer. By scattering dozens of explosive submunitions across a broad area, the missile increases the likelihood that at least one will strike something.
Another factor is the challenge such weapons pose to air-defense systems. Intercepting dozens of small objects can be far more difficult than stopping a single large missile. This creates an additional burden for defensive systems such as Iron Dome, especially if the missile is not intercepted earlier at high altitude by the Arrow system.
Security experts also believe the timing of their use may simply reflect availability. Some of these weapons are believed to have been stored in eastern Iran at sites that were less affected by recent strikes.
Paradoxically, cluster missiles are generally considered less destructive to buildings and protected spaces than missiles carrying a single large warhead.
A standard ballistic missile with a unified warhead weighing hundreds of kilograms can cause the collapse of an entire building. By contrast, each submunition in a cluster missile contains only about 2.5 kilograms of explosive material.
That amount of explosive is typically not enough to penetrate the reinforced concrete walls of a protected safe room or cause major structural damage. As a result, people who follow Home Front Command instructions and remain in protected areas are significantly safer.
However, for anyone caught outside, the danger can be severe. Each submunition spreads fast-moving and potentially lethal shrapnel across a wide area.
Another serious risk comes from unexploded submunitions. Some of the small bombs may fail to detonate when they hit the ground and can remain dangerous for years. These unexploded devices can detonate if touched or moved.
Authorities therefore stress that anyone who encounters suspicious objects or debris should avoid approaching them and report the location immediately to the police.
{Matzav.com}
