IRAN WAR: I DISCOVERED What This IS!

Summary

The video analyzes Iran's Koramsh medium-range ballistic missile and its unique Kad submunition warhead. These small, unguided submunitions, each carrying about 2.5 kg of explosives, are dispersed from the missile at low altitudes using aerodynamic drag and thermal shielding, creating a cloud of glowing targets to complicate interception. With variants carrying 20–24 or 80 submunitions, the system is designed for area saturation against vehicles, aircraft, and equipment. While technically sophisticated, the use of such weapons over cities like Tel Aviv seems tactically questionable. The video combines technical insight with strategic analysis, highlighting both the missile's capabilities and limitations.

Takeaways

• 😀 Iran’s ballistic missile program is highly complex, with numerous models over the past 30 years, making detailed tracking very difficult.
• 😀 The missiles can carry heavy payloads, over 1 metric ton, suitable for either conventional explosives or submunition warheads.
• 😀 Kad submunitions are elongated, unguided, and unpropelled rounds with thin stabilizers, not decoys.
• 😀 There are two main submunition deployment variants: one carrying 20–24 rounds, and another carrying 80 rounds.
• 😀 Each Kad submunition carries approximately 2.5 kg of explosives, similar to a 120 mm mortar round.
• 😀 The Koramsh missile, a medium-range ballistic missile in service since 2017, is the platform likely carrying these submunitions, with a range of 2,000 km and payload of 1,800 kg.
• 😀 Submunitions are deployed by slowing the missile bus, using thermal shielding and aerodynamic drag, and may glow brightly upon release due to heat.
• 😀 Deployment altitude is around 7,000–8,000 meters to ensure accuracy and prevent the need for individual thermal shields for each submunition.
• 😀 The submunition cloud can confuse air defense systems, with slower re-entry potentially being interpreted as debris, avoiding interception by systems like the Patriot.
• 😀 Kad submunitions are area saturation weapons intended for targets like vehicles, aircraft, or light structures, but their effectiveness against cities is questionable.
• 😀 Both very fast and controlled slow missile re-entry speeds can help evade interception, highlighting a strategic design choice in these missiles.

Q & A

What is the Kad submunition, and how is it different from decoys?

The Kad submunition is a type of warhead used in Iranian missiles. It is an elongated, round object with thin stabilizers, but it is neither guided nor propelled. Unlike decoys, it contains explosive material and is designed for area saturation attacks, whereas decoys are typically used to confuse or mislead defensive systems.

What is the role of throw weight in a missile's design?

Throw weight refers to the missile's payload capacity. It indicates how much explosive material or warhead the missile can carry. In the case of some Iranian missiles, the throw weight is above one metric ton, which makes them suitable for carrying heavy explosive devices or submunition warheads like the Kad.

How many submunitions can be carried by the vehicle variants, and what is their explosive power?

There are two known variants of the Kad submunition delivery system: one carries 20 or 24 submunitions, and the other carries 80. Each submunition contains about 2.5 kilograms of explosive material, which is roughly equivalent to the explosive power of a 120mm mortar round.

Why is the release altitude of the Kad submunitions so low?

The release altitude for the Kad submunitions is around 7,000 to 8,000 meters. This low altitude is necessary because releasing the submunitions before re-entering the atmosphere would require each submunition to have its own thermal shield, which would make them very inaccurate if released at higher altitudes.

What are the challenges associated with using cluster munitions like the Kad submunition?

One significant challenge is the risk of unexploded ordnance, which is common with cluster munitions. After an attack, bomb disposal expertise is needed to make the area safe, as these submunitions may not detonate on impact, posing a threat to civilians or military personnel.

How do the Kad submunitions avoid interception by defense systems like the Patriot missiles?

The Kad submunitions evade interception by being released at low altitudes and by slowing down significantly. Their unique flight pattern, combined with their low speed and low radar profile, makes it difficult for interception systems, like the Patriot missiles, to identify and target them as they appear as debris to the interceptor’s software.

What is the Koramsh missile, and how does it relate to the Kad submunitions?

The Koramsh missile is a medium-range ballistic missile developed by Iran. It is believed to be associated with carrying the Kad submunitions due to its payload capacity. The missile entered service in 2017 and has a range of 2,000 kilometers, making it capable of carrying submunition warheads with significant explosive potential.

What is the intended use of the Kad submunitions in warfare?

The Kad submunitions are primarily designed for area saturation attacks. They are effective against targets such as vehicles, aircraft, buildings, and electronic equipment. The missile carrying these submunitions would be especially useful against large concentrations of military or strategic assets.

Why was the Kad submunition used in urban areas like Tel Aviv, according to the video?

The reason for using Kad submunitions in urban areas like Tel Aviv is unclear. The video suggests that spreading mortar rounds over a city is unlikely to influence the outcome of the war significantly. The video questions the strategic intent behind using these submunitions in such settings, as it seems more suitable for targeting military assets.

How does the missile's aerodynamic drag help in slowing down the release of the submunitions?

The missile's bus carrying the submunitions likely has a design that maximizes aerodynamic drag to slow it down significantly. This is crucial because slowing down the missile allows the submunitions to be released at lower altitudes with a better chance of dispersing over a target area while avoiding interception.