History and Development of the KMGU Munition Dispenser
The KMGU (Kontayner Mnogotselevoy, Geroev Ukrainy) is a Soviet/Russian cluster munition dispenser designed for use by aircraft. Developed in the 1970s, its primary role is to disperse submunitions, which can be either anti-personnel, anti-tank, or a combination of both. The KMGU has been used in various combat scenarios by the Soviet Union and its successor states, as well as other nations that acquired Soviet military technology.
Origins and Initial Development
The development of the KMGU began in the early 1970s when the Soviet military sought to enhance its aerial-delivered ordnance. The aim was to create a flexible, reusable system that could deploy a wide range of submunitions against different targets. This design philosophy was driven by the evolving nature of warfare, particularly in response to NATO’s advanced armored vehicles and large troop formations.
The KMGU dispenser was intended for integration with a wide variety of Soviet aircraft, including fighters, bombers, and attack helicopters. Key aircraft that could be equipped with the KMGU included the Su-17, Su-24, Su-25, MiG-27, and helicopters such as the Mi-24.
Technical Design
The KMGU consists of a cylindrical container with multiple internal compartments (often eight or more), each loaded with submunitions. These submunitions are stored in cassettes (such as the AO-2.5RT or PTAB-2.5) that are ejected from the container when deployed.
The submunitions could be tailored to different mission types:
- Anti-personnel bomblets for use against troops and soft targets.
- Anti-tank bomblets to engage armored vehicles.
- A combination of both to increase operational flexibility.
The KMGU system’s flexibility was one of its main advantages, allowing the same aircraft to deploy different munitions based on the needs of a particular mission. The dispenser operates at various altitudes and speeds, offering tactical versatility during both high-speed bombing runs and slower, close-support missions.
Deployment and Use
The KMGU was first introduced into Soviet service in the 1970s, and it saw its first combat use during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s. In Afghanistan, Soviet forces used the KMGU to disrupt Mujahideen formations, destroy supply lines, and target armored vehicles.
In subsequent conflicts, such as the Chechen Wars and various Middle Eastern conflicts, the KMGU continued to be a useful tool in the Russian Air Force’s arsenal. Its ability to saturate an area with bomblets made it particularly effective in counter-insurgency operations and conventional combat alike.
Post-Soviet Developments
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the KMGU remained in service with several post-Soviet states, including Russia. The original KMGU design evolved, leading to the development of the KMGU-2, which offered better reliability and improved integration with newer aircraft systems.
Russia has continued to utilize the KMGU series in modern conflicts, including operations in Syria. There, the system has been deployed to strike various rebel groups, illustrating its continued relevance in modern air warfare.
Legacy and Current Status
Today, the KMGU is considered a somewhat older, but still capable system. Cluster munitions, in general, have become the subject of international controversy due to the potential for unexploded bomblets to cause civilian casualties long after a conflict has ended. Despite these concerns, Russia and several other countries have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions and continue to maintain and, in some cases, upgrade systems like the KMGU.
While more advanced precision-guided munitions are now available, the KMGU remains valuable for situations where large-area saturation is needed, or where submunitions can effectively neutralize massed infantry or armor.
Conclusion
The KMGU munition dispenser is a testament to Soviet military engineering, providing a flexible and reusable system for deploying cluster munitions in a wide range of combat situations. Despite the controversies surrounding cluster munitions and their use, the KMGU continues to serve as an effective tool in the Russian Air Force and other operators worldwide. Its history reflects broader trends in aerial warfare, from the Cold War through to modern-day conflicts.
General Characteristics:
- Type: Cluster munition dispenser
- Role: Delivery of anti-personnel, anti-tank, or mixed submunitions
- In service: 1970s–present
- Countries: Russia, former Soviet Union states, and various international operators
Physical Dimensions:
- Length: 2.3 meters (approximately 7.55 feet)
- Diameter: 0.35 meters (13.78 inches)
- Weight (empty): 165 kg (approximately 364 lbs)
- Weight (loaded): 500 kg (approximately 1,102 lbs)
Capacity and Payload:
- Number of Dispensers: Typically 8 submunition compartments (can vary slightly depending on the variant)
- Submunition types:
- AO-2.5RT or PTAB-2.5 bomblets
- Total bomblets per KMGU: ~96 to 174 depending on the type and combination of submunitions
- Submunition weight: Around 2.5 kg each
specified munitions
1. AO-2.5RT Bomblets
- Type: Anti-personnel fragmentation bomblets
- Weight: 2.5 kg each
- Purpose: Designed to inflict damage against soft targets such as infantry or light vehicles. These bomblets scatter over a wide area and detonate on impact, releasing metal fragments to maximize damage to personnel.
- Deployment: Around 96 to 174 AO-2.5RT bomblets can be loaded into the KMGU dispenser, depending on the mission profile.
2. PTAB-2.5 (ПТАБ-2.5) Anti-Tank Bomblets
- Type: Shaped-charge anti-tank bomblets
- Weight: 2.5 kg each
- Purpose: The PTAB-2.5 is a small but powerful bomblet designed to penetrate the armor of vehicles and tanks. Using a shaped-charge warhead, it can pierce the armor of light and medium-armored vehicles when deployed in mass from the air.
- Deployment: Similar to AO-2.5RT, the KMGU can carry a similar number of PTAB-2.5 bomblets for anti-armor operations.
3. Soviet PFM-1 “Butterfly Mines”
- Type: Anti-personnel landmines
- Weight: 0.07 kg each
- Purpose: These are small, scatterable mines designed to disable infantry. The PFM-1 has a distinctive “butterfly” shape and is notorious for its use in area denial operations. While not as common as the AO-2.5 or PTAB bomblets, the KMGU dispenser has been known to carry these mines in certain configurations.
- Deployment: Hundreds of these lightweight mines can be packed into a single KMGU dispenser, allowing for widespread area saturation.
4. RBK-500U Cluster Bomb Submunitions
- Type: Various submunitions
- Purpose: In some configurations, the KMGU can carry a set of RBK-500U submunitions, which include a mix of fragmentation, armor-piercing, and incendiary bomblets.
- Deployment: The exact type of bomblets used depends on the mission and can include a mix of anti-personnel and anti-tank submunitions.
5. AT-1 and AT-2 Anti-Tank Mines
- Type: Scatterable anti-tank mines
- Purpose: The AT-1 and AT-2 are anti-tank mines that can be dispersed by aerial dispensers like the KMGU. These mines are designed to disable or destroy armored vehicles by detonating under them.
- Deployment: The KMGU can deploy a large number of these mines over a broad area to prevent the advance of enemy armor.
6. AO-1SCh Bomblets
- Type: Anti-personnel fragmentation bomblets
- Weight: 1 kg each
- Purpose: A lighter fragmentation bomblet, the AO-1SCh is also designed to engage soft targets like infantry or lightly armored vehicles, dispersing metal fragments upon detonation.
7. OZM-72 and POM-2 Anti-Personnel Mines
- Type: Scatterable anti-personnel mines
- Purpose: OZM-72 and POM-2 are types of bounding and fragmentation mines that can be delivered from the air. The KMGU can scatter these mines across a battlefield, making it hazardous for enemy forces to advance.
Modular Flexibility:
The KMGU’s internal compartments can be reconfigured to carry combinations of these munitions, making it adaptable for a variety of missions—whether it’s targeting personnel, armored vehicles, or creating minefields. The flexibility of the system lies in its ability to load different types of bomblets or mines to suit the specific tactical environment.
This versatility makes the KMGU an effective tool for both high-intensity conflicts against mechanized forces and low-intensity warfare involving insurgents or entrenched infantry positions. However, as with other cluster munitions, the potential for unexploded ordnance (UXO) remains a significant concern.
Operational Details:
- Deployment:
- The submunitions are ejected sequentially from the dispenser, which is equipped with an ejection mechanism that operates via an internal system.
- Capable of delivering munitions over a wide area to maximize saturation.
- Mounting:
- Can be mounted on various aircraft, including fighter-bombers, attack aircraft, and helicopters (e.g., Su-24, Su-25, MiG-27, Mi-24).
Compatibility:
- Aircraft types:
- Su-17, Su-24, Su-25
- MiG-27, MiG-23
- Mi-24, Mi-28, Ka-50/Ka-52 (helicopters)
Variants:
- KMGU-1: Original model used during the Cold War.
- KMGU-2: Improved version with enhanced reliability and compatibility with newer aircraft systems.
Usage Conditions:
- Altitude of deployment: Can be released at various altitudes, from low to medium-high altitudes, depending on the tactical requirements.
- Speed of deployment: Can be used by aircraft flying at subsonic or supersonic speeds.
The KMGU, with its multi-purpose munition options, provides versatility in both ground support and area denial missions. However, its primary limitation is the danger posed by unexploded submunitions, a common issue with older cluster munition systems.