The Truth about Cluster Munitions and DPICM (Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions)

NOTE: I may have been wrong about this and an updated video is here:

There's been a lot of misinformation about DPICM, so let me set the record straight. DPICM or Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions or "cluster bombs" are a way of delivering ordinance to a target without the need for precision aiming.

The problem, is that when the DPICM shell opens up to deploy its submunitions, some submunitions (1%-3% for NATO, up to 40% for Russian) are damaged when they smack into each other. This means that they become "duds" and don't explode, although they are still dangerous, and essentially become land mines.

This means that they can't be used in urban areas where civilians may be present. It also means that you can't use them against targets you intend to overrun later because you are creating your own minefield.

DPICM isn't necessarily good against trenches either because their explosive power is more like a grenade than an artillery shell. So soldiers can hide in bunkers successfully against submunitions - these shells are devastating against soldiers and vehicles in the open, but not so good against solders under cover.

Because of the nature of the war in Ukraine, I believe that Ukraine will instead disassemble the DPICM 155 rounds and use them individually as drone-dropped munitions.

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