cluster bomb

military technology

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June 24, 2026

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Cluster bombs are a type of aerial bomb consisting of an outer casing that holds numerous smaller submunitions, such as bomblets, grenades, or mines. These submunitions are scattered over a wide area when the casing is released. Cluster bombs have been used for their fragmentation and antiarmor capabilities.12

However, unexploded submunitions pose a significant threat to civilians long after a conflict ends, similar to landmines. This danger led to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, adopted in 2008, which prohibits the use, manufacture, and transfer of these weapons. Despite this, some countries have not ratified the convention.12

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arms control
Recent efforts
…that banned the use of cluster bombs, which release dozens of smaller bombs (“bomblets”) over a wide area. The Cluster Munition Coalition, a network of nongovernmental organizations including the ICBL and Amnesty International, had spearheaded efforts to prohibit the devices on the grounds that unexploded bomblets present a lethal risk…
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…that banned the use of cluster bombs, which release dozens of smaller bombs (“bomblets”) over a wide area. The Cluster Munition Coalition, a network of nongovernmental organizations including the ICBL and Amnesty International, had spearheaded efforts to prohibit the devices on the grounds that unexploded bomblets present a lethal risk…
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bomb
Conventional bomb types
Subsequent types include cluster and fuel-air explosive (FAE) bombs. Cluster bombs consist of an outer casing containing dozens of small bomblets; the casing splits open in midair, releasing a shower of bomblets that explode upon impact. Cluster bombs have both fragmentation and antiarmor capabilities. FAEs are designed to…
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Subsequent types include cluster and fuel-air explosive (FAE) bombs. Cluster bombs consist of an outer casing containing dozens of small bomblets; the casing splits open in midair, releasing a shower of bomblets that explode upon impact. Cluster bombs have both fragmentation and antiarmor capabilities. FAEs are designed to…
Read More