Ukraine counters russian push in Kursk with cluster rockets
The Russian personnel in the Kursk region were targeted by M30 version GMLRS rockets, which contain a mix of several hundred anti-armor and anti-personnel bomblets. We present their capabilities and discuss the effects of the attack.
The Russians, along with soldiers from North Korea, have been tirelessly attempting to retake the area of the Kursk region occupied by Ukrainians. Despite their numerical advantage, they have not made any advances in recent weeks. Ukrainians are trying to neutralize their opponent's superiority using, among other things, GMLRS M30 version missiles with a cluster warhead.
The video below shows three M30 GMLRS missiles impacting the forest area occupied by the Russians and/or Koreans, creating distinct zones of destruction with hundreds of bomblets.
M30 GMLRS rockets — a controversial weapon with immense destructive force
The M30 GMLRS missiles with a cluster warhead were produced from 2004 to 2009 until the transition to a less controversial Alternative Warhead in the M30A1 version, which eliminated duds.
The cluster variant M30 contains a classic cluster warhead with precisely 404 M101 DPICM bomblets released in the air over a designated area. They are quite similar to the more common M85 DPICM (Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munition), weighing approximately 11 oz and capable of piercing armor thicknesses of about 4 to 5 inches while affecting soft targets with fragments within a range of a few yards.
As seen in the footage, three M30 missiles released a total of 1,212 bomblets over the area occupied by Russians or Koreans. Protection against such bomblets is typically only provided by armor cover or an armored vehicle with a roof. The latter is designed to detonate a bomblet at a safe distance, for instance, 8 inches from the actual armor, which helps protect against fragments.
The precise delivery of the cluster warhead at distances up to about 50 miles is ensured by a guidance system combining inertial and satellite navigation, achieving precision within a few yards under optimal conditions. Although GPS signal jamming reduces precision by a few yards, for this type of area-effect warhead, it is not of major significance.
