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Production of Cluster Munitions

Globally, thirty-four countries are known to have produced over 210 different types of cluster munitions.  Theseinclude artillery projectiles, aerially delivered bombs, and rockets or missiles that can be delivered by surface or aerial means.  The countries listed below are known to have produced cluster munitions.  A few have stopped production (the Netherlands and, presumably, Iraq), and in other cases, it is uncertain if production is still underway.

Cluster Munition Producers

Human Rights Watch has identified over eighty-five companies that have produced cluster munitions or their key components.  Of these companies, at least fifty-nine are actively producing or marketing cluster munitions or submunitions.  Nearly half of these active companies are based in Europe and another eight are located in the United States.  Companies that produce cluster munitions are listed in the attached appendix.

There is no standard industrial model for the production of cluster munitions.  Some are the product of multinational cooperative research and production programs.  These partnerships can involve individual companies, teams of companies, or industrial consortiums.  The production of cluster munitions involves the fabrication and integration of a large number of components like metal parts, explosives, fuzes, and packaging materials.  It is rare that all components are produced at one location by one entity.  The culmination of the production process occurs at a facility that loads, assembles, and packs the submunitions into a complete warhead assembly, which is often hermetically sealed.  This warhead can then be mated with other components in the weapon system such as rocket motors and guidance systems.  Once the complete weapon is assembled, it enters service with the armed forces. 

One recent innovation in cluster munition production is the advent of a back-up self-destruct fuze as a measure to reduce the initial failure rate of the submunitions.  At least fourteen countries have developed or deployed cluster munitions with this capability: Argentina, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.  While the most common forms of self-destruct technology can reduce the failure rate substantially, the threat is not eliminated: the danger during strikes remains and the large number of submunitions typically employed can result in a significant number of hazardous duds, even if the failure rate is low. 

In one recent example of this type of production, the United Kingdom purchased 59,364 L20A1 cluster munitions between 1996 and 2004. These artillery delivered projectiles contain 2.9 million M-85 Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM) submunitions with self-destruct fuzes.  The L20A1 projectiles, 2,100 of which were used in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, were manufactured by BAE Systems Royal Ordnance under license from Israel Military Industries (IMI).  U.K. forces caused dozens of civilian casualties when they used these cluster munitions in and around Basra, and Human Rights Watch found duds in civilian neighborhoods more than one month later. 

In another licensing agreement, the United Kingdom purchased 29,574 M26 rockets for its Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) between 1992 and 1995 for an estimated value of £186 million.  The weapons were produced under license in Germany and contain 19 million DPICM submunitions.

It was reported in 2002 that Israel Military Industries has produced over 60 million M-85 DPICM submunitions.  IMI concluded licensing agreements in 2004 with companies in India (Indian Ordnance Factories) and the United States (Alliant Techsystems) to produce DPICMs.  Companies in Argentina (CITEFA), Germany (Rheinmetall), Romania (Romtechnica), and Switzerland (Armasuisse) have also assembled or produced these submunitions under license.

The United States has also concluded a number of licensing agreements, including with South Korea in 2001 for production of DPICM submunitions for MLRS rockets, as well as with the Netherlands, Pakistan and Turkey in the past.  Also in 2001, the U.S. provided assistance and technical data to support Japan’s production of CBU-87 Combined Effects Munitions (CEM).