Pentagon’s Kahl: Cluster munitions delivered to Ukraine ‘will consist only of those with a dud rate less than 2.35 percent. Compare that to Russia, which has been using cluster munitions across Ukraine with dud rates of between 30 and 40 percent.’
by marketrent
10 comments
Russia has always put the K in kuality.
The average “dud” rate for US munitions is 3.4%, significantly higher than cluster at 2.35%.
Dud and low-order rate by ammunition size. (From USAEC report of findings for study of ammunition dud and low-order detonation rates, July 2000.)
[https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Dud-and-low-order-rate-by-ammunition-size-From-USAEC-report-of-findings-for-study-of_tbl2_235065123](https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Dud-and-low-order-rate-by-ammunition-size-From-USAEC-report-of-findings-for-study-of_tbl2_235065123)
Pentagon’s Kahl, currently on leave from Stanford, addresses “some things in the press” about cluster munitions:^1
>The DPICM ammunition we are delivering to Ukraine will consist only of those with a dud rate less than 2.35 percent. Compare that to Russia, which has been using cluster munitions across Ukraine with dud rates of between 30 and 40 percent.
>[…]
>The Ukrainian government has offered us assurances in writing on the responsible use of DPICMs, including that they will not use the rounds in civilian-populated urban environments and that they will record where they use these rounds, which will simplify later demining efforts.
>[…]
>So, look, we’re aware of reporting — and I’ve seen some things in the press over the last 24 hours, you know, that references various DOD studies which analyze the dud rates of older versions of DPICMs.
>There are lots of different variants. I think as we talked about, you know, the Russians are — the — you know, a cluster munition is not a cluster munition. There are there are big differences between them.
>Many of those studies that have been referenced, at least the ones that I’ve seen in the press, were based on testing completed in the 1980s, and many of the DPICMs of those variants have since been demilitarized. We’re not providing those variants of DPICMs to Ukraine.
>Instead, we’ll be providing our most modern DPICMs with dud rates assessed to be under 2.35 percent, demonstrated through five comprehensive tests conducted by the Department of Defense between 1998 and 2020.
>So, we’re confident in those numbers.
^1 Department of Defence (7 Jul. 2023), “Transcript: Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl holds press briefing”, https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3452000/under-secretary-of-defense-for-policy-dr-colin-kahl-holds-press-briefing/
How is it even fucking possible to make bombs with a 30-40% failure rate?
Putting aside the fact that Russia has been raining cluster munitions on Ukraine for more than a year, it’s worth pointing out that the “duds” are the only sticking point, since they leave unexploded bombs where they can be encountered by civilians. You know who else leaves unexploded bombs (mines) by the millions where they can be encountered by civilians?
Russia. Russia mines civilian territory. Russia boobytraps civilian homes. Russia intentionally targets Ukrainian schools, museums, restaurants, train stations, apartment buildings, and utility infrastructure.
If Russia’s transgressions are a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10, then the provision of cluster bombs, tanks, missiles, and fighter jets is about a 1 at best.
Anyone knows when these munitions are expected to arrive in Ukraine? I’ve searched a little bit but couldn’t find information about it
Also a nice way of saying “our cluster bombs are a lot more effective”
We can rest assured the dud rate is half that as US weapons outperform their stated metrics quite frequently.
Sorry Russia, our shit works.
Thank you USA!! 🇺🇸