Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

MAT-120

The MAT-120 is a 120 mm mortar-fired cargo bomb developed and manufactured by the Spanish defense company Instalaza S.A., designed to disperse 21 high-explosive dual-purpose submunitions for area saturation effects against personnel and light vehicles.^[1] Each submunition features an electronic fuze enabling impact detonation or self-destruction to mitigate unexploded ordnance risks.^[1] Introduced in the late 1980s, the weapon provides an effective firing range of 5,500 to 6,500 meters depending on mortar barrel length, offering infantry units enhanced suppression capabilities over conventional high-explosive rounds.^[2] The MAT-120 gained export success, including selection by the Finnish Defence Forces for their arsenal prior to Finland's adherence to international restrictions on cluster munitions.^[3] However, its deployment by Libyan government forces during the 2011 civil war, particularly in populated areas like Misrata, drew international condemnation for potential civilian harm and long-term contamination from dud submunitions.^[4] Spain, which had exported batches to Libya in 2006 and 2008, publicly denounced the usage while implementing a national moratorium on cluster bomb production and transfers in 2008, ahead of ratifying the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2010.^[5] Despite self-destruct mechanisms reducing failure rates compared to older designs, advocacy groups highlighted persistent humanitarian risks, contributing to global efforts to phase out such weapons, though proponents argue their tactical utility in denying enemy maneuver space outweighs drawbacks in high-intensity conflicts.^[4]^[6]

Design and Technical Specifications

Projectile Composition and Deployment

The MAT-120 is a 120 mm mortar-fired cargo munition developed by Instalaza SA, featuring a steel carrier shell that houses 21 high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) submunitions rather than a single bulk explosive charge.^[7]^[8] Each submunition measures 37 mm in diameter, weighs 275 grams, and contains 50 grams of explosive filling, enabling both anti-personnel fragmentation and anti-tank shaped-charge effects via an explosively formed jet upon detonation.^[7]^[8] The submunitions have a cylindrical steel body with a stepped and tapered rear design for stability during dispersal.^[8] Deployment begins with standard firing from a smoothbore 120 mm mortar system, imparting a ballistic trajectory to the 132 kg projectile.^[7] An electronic time fuze in the nose initiates dispersal by opening the carrier at a preset altitude, randomly ejecting the submunitions over an area of 50–60 meters in diameter.^[7]^[9] Each submunition incorporates an electronic safety and arming system that activates post-dispersal, followed by detonation on impact via an electronic super-quick fuze, which produces high-velocity fragments for personnel effects alongside the shaped-charge jet for armor penetration.^[8]^[9] To mitigate unexploded remnants, the fuzes include a self-destruct mechanism triggering after 20 seconds without impact or self-neutralization after several minutes.^[8]^[9] The combined explosive content across submunitions totals 1,050 grams.^[7]

Submunitions and Fuzing Mechanisms

The MAT-120 120mm mortar projectile disperses 21 submunitions upon deployment, each designed as a 37mm high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) bomblet capable of anti-personnel and anti-armor effects.^[8]^[4] Each submunition weighs approximately 275 grams, including a 50-gram explosive filling, and features a shaped charge warhead for penetration alongside fragmentation for area denial.^[8] The submunitions are released mid-flight after the projectile's electronic time fuze triggers dispersal, scattering over a targeted footprint to maximize coverage.^[1] Fuzing in the MAT-120 system integrates both projectile-level and submunition-level mechanisms for arming, detonation, and fail-safes. The main projectile employs an electronic time fuze to initiate payload release at a preset altitude, ensuring controlled dispersion without ground impact of the carrier shell.^[1] Individual submunitions activate via an electronic impact fuze powered by a capacitor charged during flight post-dispersal, which discriminates between hard and soft targets by initiating a nose-mounted detonator upon sufficient deceleration from impact.^[8]^[7] Self-destruct and self-neutralization features are incorporated into each submunition's fuze to mitigate unexploded ordnance risks, with activation programmed for approximately 20 seconds post-scattering if no impact occurs, rendering the fuze inert through electronic deactivation or low-order detonation.^[8]^[3] These mechanisms rely on microelectronic timers and sensors, advertised by manufacturer Instalaza SA as enhancing reliability over mechanical alternatives, though field performance has varied in documented uses.^[1]

Range and Lethal Coverage

The MAT-120 is a 120 mm mortar-fired cluster munition designed for compatibility with standard 120 mm mortar systems, achieving a maximum range of up to 7,200 meters under optimal conditions with conventional charges.^[10] This range can vary based on barrel length, propellant charge, and environmental factors, with shorter barrels limiting effective projection to around 5,500–6,500 meters.^[1] Upon approaching the target, the MAT-120's payload ejects 21 dual-purpose high-explosive submunitions, each weighing approximately 275 grams and containing 50 grams of explosive filler, dispersed across an area with a radius of about 18 meters to maximize coverage against dispersed infantry and light vehicles.^[11]^[1] These submunitions function as both anti-personnel fragmentation devices and shaped-charge warheads capable of penetrating armored targets, providing lethal effects through blast, fragmentation, and armor defeat within their individual casualty radii.^[8] The patterned dispersion enhances area denial, with each submunition generating a fragmentation lethal radius of roughly 6 meters against exposed personnel, though overlapping patterns and terrain can influence overall effectiveness.^[12] This configuration prioritizes broad lethal coverage over precision, suitable for suppressing troop concentrations or unarmored assets in open terrain, while the submunitions' electronic fuzing aims to initiate detonation on impact for immediate effects.^[1]

Development and Production

Instalaza SA Background

Instalaza SA, a privately owned Spanish defense company, was founded in 1943 in Zaragoza, Aragon, as the successor to Instalaciones Zaragoza, S.L., and registered as a Sociedad Anónima.^[13] The firm initially focused on industrial installations before entering the defense sector in 1951 through participation in the "Bazooka" project, which marked the establishment of its dedicated Research and Development department.^[14] By 1953, Instalaza had developed the MOD.53 rocket launcher (88.9 mm), which was evaluated, entered service with the Spanish military, and secured its first export contract in 1962.^[13] Over subsequent decades, the company expanded its portfolio of infantry weapon systems and munitions, including the C90 family of shoulder-fired disposable launchers introduced in 1983 with iterative improvements in 1988, 2008, and 2014 for reusable variants.^[13] Notable later developments encompass the ALCOTAN-100 second-generation system in 2008 and the CS70 70 mm shoulder-launched munition in 2022.^[13] Instalaza also produced artillery munitions such as the MAT-120 120 mm cargo mortar bomb, manufactured until at least 2008, featuring submunitions for anti-personnel and anti-tank roles.^[9]^[15] Headquartered in Zaragoza with three facilities and a production plant spanning the region, Instalaza employs over 150 personnel and reinvests approximately 8% of its turnover into R&D.^[14] The company supplies the Spanish Armed Forces and exports 75% of its production to more than 35 countries worldwide, emphasizing advanced technology in weapon systems design, development, and manufacturing.^[14] In 1986, the Spanish Ministry of Defense authorized its ballistics laboratory at the San Gregorio Proving Ground, and by 2019, Instalaza acquired the Cadrete Depot, expanding its facilities to 2.5 square kilometers.^[13]

Engineering and Production History

The MAT-120 is a 120 mm smoothbore mortar-fired cargo munition engineered by Instalaza SA to deliver 21 high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) submunitions, each incorporating a top-attack shaped-charge warhead for penetrating armored vehicles alongside fragmentation effects against personnel.^[8] The design integrates an electronic safety and arming system in the submunitions, with deployment initiated by a main fuze that ejects the payload at a predetermined altitude during flight, scattering the submunitions over an area for impact detonation via individual super-quick (SQ) fuzes.^[8] Energy for submunition arming is stored in the carrier's primary fuze and mechanically or pyrotechnically transferred upon dispersal, aiming to minimize premature activation while enabling compatibility with standard 120 mm mortars such as the Spanish L/14 or equivalent systems.^[16] Submunitions feature a self-destruct mechanism activating approximately 20 seconds post-deployment if no impact occurs, supplemented by a self-neutralization mode to render undetonated units inert, though field performance data indicates variable reliability in achieving full clearance.^[8] This engineering approach sought to address concerns over unexploded ordnance by incorporating time-limited fuzing, distinct from earlier cluster designs reliant solely on impact or mechanical delays, but independent assessments have questioned the efficacy of such systems in diverse environmental conditions. Production commenced in Spain by Instalaza SA in Zaragoza, with units bearing 2007 manufacturing date stamps documented in operational remnants recovered from Misrata, Libya, indicating active output by that year.^[17] Spain's military declared a stockpile of 2,271 MAT-120 projectiles—equating to approximately 47,691 submunitions—on 2 December 2008 under the Cluster Munitions Convention framework, with 1,852 units (38,892 submunitions) destroyed by year's end via controlled detonation to comply with treaty obligations prohibiting retention of such weapons.^[18] A revised total of 1,995 projectiles was reported destroyed by April 2018, reflecting updated inventory audits.^[19] Export efforts included a proposed supply contract to Finland's defense forces for the MAT-120, announced prior to 2009, but the deal was canceled amid growing international scrutiny over cluster munitions, limiting dissemination beyond initial stockpiles.^[3] Following revelations of MAT-120 use in Libya in April 2011, Instalaza ceased production and removed the item from its catalog after media and NGO-driven public backlash, aligning with Spain's ratification of the convention on 22 September 2009 and subsequent national export controls.^[4]^[20] No further manufacturing has been reported post-2011, rendering the MAT-120 a short-lived product in Instalaza's portfolio.^[20]

Operational Deployment

Libyan Civil War Usage

Libyan government forces under Muammar Gaddafi deployed MAT-120 cluster munitions during the 2011 civil war, primarily targeting rebel-held areas in the besieged city of Misrata.^[21] On the night of April 14, 2011, pro-government forces fired 120mm mortar projectiles containing MAT-120 submunitions into residential neighborhoods, as evidenced by remnants recovered and analyzed by field investigators.^[22] These munitions, each dispersing 21 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) submunitions, were identified through markings on unexploded ordnance matching those produced by Instalaza SA.^[4] The MAT-120's use stemmed from prior Spanish exports to Libya, with Spain transferring 1,055 units containing approximately 22,155 submunitions between 2006 and 2008, stockpiled for potential deployment.^[23] Gaddafi loyalists employed the weapon in urban combat to deny area control to opposition fighters, launching salvos that scattered submunitions over broad zones, though exact strike counts remain unquantified due to the chaotic reporting environment.^[24] No verified instances of MAT-120 deployment by Libyan factions in the subsequent 2014–2020 civil war have been documented, with cluster munition remnants from that period attributed to other types such as RBK-250 bombs.^[25] International observers, including nongovernmental organizations, confirmed the munitions' indiscriminate nature in populated settings through on-site photography and submunition analysis, prompting immediate condemnation for violating emerging norms against cluster weapons despite Libya's non-signatory status to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.^[26] Post-conflict surveys in Misrata revealed persistent contamination from dud submunitions, underscoring the MAT-120's role in prolonging hazards beyond active hostilities.^[21]

Documented Effects in Combat

In April 2011, during the Libyan Civil War, Libyan government forces under Muammar Gaddafi employed the MAT-120 for the first documented time in combat, primarily in strikes against opposition-held areas in Misrata.^[4]^[23] On April 14, 2011, a MAT-120 projectile struck a residential neighborhood in Misrata, dispersing 21 submunitions over an area of approximately 100 meters in diameter; each submunition, upon impact, fragmented into high-velocity steel pieces designed for both antipersonnel and antimaterial effects, with a lethal fragmentation radius estimated at up to 15 meters per submunition based on field remnants and explosive yield analysis.^[21] Human Rights Watch investigators recovered MAT-120 submunition remnants at the site, confirming the weapon's deployment and its capacity to inflict shrapnel wounds over wide areas, though specific casualty counts from this incident were not isolated due to overlapping use of conventional munitions.^[21] The submunitions' dual-purpose design resulted in documented injuries from penetrating fragments to exposed personnel and light vehicles, as observed in Misrata strikes where opposition fighters reported temporary suppression of movements in affected zones due to the scatter pattern and ongoing dud hazards.^[4] Amnesty International documented at least one civilian death attributable to MAT-120 submunitions: 12-year-old Hsein Mohammed, killed by fragmentation in a cluster strike during the Misrata siege.^[27] Broader effects included contamination from unexploded submunitions, which functioned as persistent antipersonnel threats; the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor noted that failure rates, potentially 5-10% based on similar cluster systems, left duds in urban environments, contributing to post-conflict explosive remnant hazards without verified direct ties to subsequent MAT-120-specific incidents.^[23] In tactical terms, the MAT-120's effects in Libya demonstrated area saturation lethality against unarmored infantry concentrations, with remnants indicating effective dispersal in mid-air bursts, but also highlighted challenges in confined urban combat, where submunitions impacted non-combatants and infrastructure indiscriminately.^[21] No further combat uses beyond 2011 Libya have been credibly reported, limiting empirical data to these engagements.^[23]

Legal Status and International Response

Cluster Munitions Convention

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), adopted at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on 30 May 2008 and entering into force on 1 August 2010, prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, and transfer of cluster munitions under any circumstances, while requiring the destruction of existing stockpiles and clearance of contaminated areas.^[28]^[29] It defines a cluster munition as a conventional munition designed to disperse or release explosive submunitions, each weighing less than 20 kilograms, with limited exceptions for munitions that do not disperse such submunitions indiscriminately.^[28] As of 2023, more than 110 states are parties to the treaty, though major military powers including the United States, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and several Arab states have not joined, limiting its global enforcement.^[30] Spain signed the CCM on 3 December 2008 and ratified it on 17 June 2010, committing to comply with its prohibitions.^[5] In preparation, Spain implemented a national moratorium on cluster munitions in July 2008 and destroyed its stockpiles, including 1,852 MAT-120 mortar projectiles containing 38,892 submunitions, by the end of that year.^[21] The MAT-120, produced by Instalaza SA, qualifies as a banned cluster munition under the treaty due to its deployment of 21 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) submunitions, each approximately 2.3 kilograms, which are ejected over a target area.^[5] Production of the MAT-120 by Instalaza ceased in 2008 in line with the moratorium, though the company reportedly retained the weapon in its catalog into 2009 before full compliance.^[6] Despite these measures, Spain's pre-ratification exports of MAT-120 cluster munitions to Libya in 2006 and 2008 drew scrutiny after Libyan government forces deployed them during the 2011 civil war, violating the treaty's spirit on transfers even if occurring before Spain's formal accession.^[5]^[4] In June 2011, Spain publicly condemned the use of these munitions in Libya and initiated investigations into the exports, affirming that no transfers occurred post-2008 moratorium.^[5] The incident highlighted enforcement challenges, as non-party states like Libya faced no direct obligations under the CCM, and Spain's actions aligned with treaty requirements for stockpile destruction but underscored gaps in pre-accession export controls. Critics of the CCM, including military analysts, contend that its broad ban overlooks technological advancements in submunition reliability that could mitigate post-conflict hazards, potentially rendering the treaty overly restrictive for legitimate area-denial needs in warfare, though proponents emphasize empirical data on civilian casualties from unexploded remnants in past conflicts.^[31]

Spanish Export Controls and Investigations

Spain ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) on 17 June 2009, with the treaty entering into force on 1 August 2010, thereby prohibiting the production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of cluster munitions, including their export.^[32] This ratification implemented national legislation under Law 53/2007 on the control of external trade in defense and dual-use goods, which requires government authorization for arms exports and assesses risks of diversion or misuse.^[33] Prior to ratification, Spain's export policies allowed transfers of cluster munitions subject to case-by-case licensing by the Ministry of Economy's Department of Foreign Trade in Defense and Dual-Use Items, without the absolute prohibition later imposed by the CCM.^[34] In 2007, Spanish authorities issued an export license for 1,055 MAT-120 cluster munitions—containing approximately 22,155 submunitions—to Libya, with delivery occurring in March 2008.^[35] These transfers complied with regulations in effect at the time, preceding both the cessation of new cluster munition export licenses on 11 June 2008 and CCM ratification.^[18] No evidence indicates unauthorized or post-2008 exports of MAT-120 by Instalaza SA, the manufacturer, though the company faced financial difficulties following the CCM's impact on cluster munition production.^[5] Following reports in April 2011 of MAT-120 use by Libyan government forces in Misrata during the Libyan Civil War, Spanish officials conducted a review confirming the munitions' origin with Instalaza SA and their legal export to Libya prior to CCM obligations.^[32] The government publicly condemned the use in Libya while stating that the transfers predated the convention's entry into force, with no findings of regulatory violations.^[5] Subsequent Article 7 transparency reports under the CCM have affirmed Spain's destruction of stockpiled cluster munitions and absence of production or export activities since ratification.^[32] No criminal investigations into Instalaza SA or export officials related to MAT-120 have been documented.

Military Effectiveness and Debates

Tactical Advantages

The MAT-120, a 120mm mortar-fired cargo munition containing 21 high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) submunitions, provides tactical superiority in engaging dispersed enemy formations by dispersing its payload over an area, increasing the probability of hits against infantry and light vehicles compared to unitary high-explosive rounds.^[8] Each 37mm submunition functions with a shaped charge for penetrating light armor and fragmentation for anti-personnel effects, enabling versatile suppression of both soft and semi-hardened targets in a single delivery.^[8] This multi-mode lethality supports rapid area denial, particularly in fluid combat scenarios where enemies exploit cover or mobility to evade point-target strikes.^[16] Compatibility with standard 120mm mortar systems—such as towed or vehicle-mounted variants—allows infantry units to deliver indirect fire support organically, with high-angle trajectories enabling strikes on reverse-slope positions or urban environments inaccessible to direct-fire weapons.^[1] Mortars' mobility and setup time under 5 minutes facilitate responsive fire missions, outpacing heavier artillery in close-support roles and enhancing maneuver forces' tempo. The munition's electronic fuzing and spin-induced dispersion pattern optimize submunition spread for maximum coverage without requiring advanced guidance, preserving simplicity in contested environments.^[1] A key operational enabler is the submunitions' dual-redundant self-destruct mechanism, activating after a timed delay if unfuzed on impact, which limits unexploded ordnance to under 1% in tests—far below legacy cluster rates—reducing post-strike hazards and permitting faster friendly advances into treated areas.^[36] This feature mitigates the risk of duds functioning as improvised mines, a common drawback of non-self-destructing clusters, thereby supporting aggressive exploitation phases without extensive clearance delays.^[16] In documented Libyan deployments around 2011, such reliability contributed to sustained suppressive effects against rebel advances in open terrain.^[37] Overall, these attributes position the MAT-120 as a force multiplier for light forces facing numerically superior or entrenched foes, prioritizing immediate battlefield impact over prolonged environmental persistence.

Reliability Data and Failure Rates

Instalaza SA, the manufacturer of the MAT-120, claimed that its submunitions achieved a zero percent failure rate under testing conditions.^[27] This assertion aligned with design features incorporating an electronic impact fuse intended to ensure reliable detonation upon hitting the target, with a self-neutralization mechanism for any non-detonating units to render them inert after a set period, thereby minimizing hazardous unexploded ordnance (UXO).^[38] Independent assessments reported bomblet failure rates below 1 percent in controlled trials, where 175 shells were fired without shell failure, deploying 8,575 submunitions of which 197 failed to function, yielding a 2.3 percent bomblet dud rate in that specific evaluation.^[38] Field performance data for the MAT-120 remains limited and primarily anecdotal, as no large-scale empirical studies quantifying operational dud rates have been declassified or independently verified. In the 2011 Libyan Civil War, where Libyan government forces deployed MAT-120 munitions extensively around Misratah and other contested areas, unexploded submunitions were documented in post-strike surveys, contributing to civilian hazards and clearance efforts.^[39] These remnants indicated that combat variables—such as variable release altitudes from helicopter or mortar delivery, impact angles, soil types, and vegetation—likely elevated failure rates beyond laboratory benchmarks, consistent with patterns observed in other cluster munitions where field duds often range from 5 to 40 percent due to mechanical sensitivities and environmental factors.^[40] Critics, including field observers in Libya, characterized the MAT-120 as exhibiting a high dud rate, exacerbating UXO contamination in urban environments despite manufacturer assurances. The absence of transparent, peer-reviewed operational reliability data underscores challenges in verifying claims for munitions like the MAT-120, where ideal-test results frequently diverge from real-world efficacy influenced by deployment inaccuracies and submunition spin or dispersal dynamics.^[41]

Counterarguments on Indiscriminate Effects

The MAT-120 cluster munition incorporates submunitions with electronic fuzes featuring self-destruct timers set to activate after approximately 120 seconds if no impact detonation occurs, supplemented by a self-neutralization mechanism that renders the fuze inoperable thereafter, thereby reducing the risk of persistent unexploded ordnance. This dual-redundancy design aims to achieve failure rates below 3%, as advertised by the manufacturer Instalaza SA, distinguishing it from older cluster munitions lacking such safeguards. In controlled tests, similar modern submunitions with self-destruct features have demonstrated dud rates as low as 1-2%, supporting claims that engineered reliability minimizes long-term indiscriminate hazards compared to legacy systems with 10-40% failure rates.^[38]^[42] Critics alleging inherent indiscriminateness often overlook the tactical context of deployment, where the MAT-120's dispersion pattern—delivering 21 dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) over an area of roughly 100-200 meters—is optimized for legitimate military objectives such as dispersed infantry formations, armored convoys, or supply depots, enabling coverage that single unitary warheads cannot match without excessive sorties. Under international humanitarian law, area-effect weapons like these are not per se indiscriminate if proportional to the military advantage anticipated and precautions are taken to avoid excessive civilian harm; empirical data from exercises indicate that precise mortar guidance systems, when integrated with intelligence, allow targeting confined to combat zones, with collateral minimized relative to the scale of enemy threats. For instance, U.S. military analyses of comparable DPICM-equipped systems report effective discrimination against massed forces in open terrain, where civilian presence is inherently lower, countering narratives that equate area coverage with blanket civilian endangerment.^[43]^[44] Furthermore, real-world dud rates for advanced cluster designs, while potentially exceeding test figures due to environmental factors like soil impact or temperature, remain empirically lower than asserted by advocacy groups; post-conflict surveys in areas using self-destructing submunitions have found UXO densities orders of magnitude below those from non-self-destruct variants, facilitating faster clearance and reducing de facto mine-like effects. Proponents, including defense analysts, argue that banning such munitions based on worst-case scenarios from outdated models ignores causal evidence of improved safety profiles, as evidenced by U.S. DPICM field data showing operational failure rates around 2-5%—still compatible with safe post-battle recovery when contrasted against alternatives like unguided artillery barrages that risk higher immediate civilian exposure through inaccuracy. This perspective holds that the MAT-120's effects are controllable and foreseeable, aligning with principles of distinction rather than constituting indiscriminate blanket harm.^[41]^[16]

References

[1]
Advanced 120mm Mortar Munition - Defense Update
Jan 28, 2005 · Another cargo bomb is produced By Instalaza of Spain. Mat-120 is equipped with 21 submunitions, each with an electronic impact fuze that ...
[2]
120mm mat 120 mortar bomb - CAT-UXO
This is the Spanish 120mm MAT-120, a High-Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) submunition cargo carrier, nose-ejecting, mortar bomb.
[3]
Spain - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
[32] Instalaza announced, “The Finnish Defence Forces have selected the Spanish 120 mm Mortar Cargo Round MAT-120, developed and produced by the Spanish company ...
[4]
Cluster Munition Use in Libya - Fact Sheet | Human Rights Watch
Jun 24, 2011 · The MAT-120 is fired by a 120mm mortar and each projectile contains ... The MAT-120s used in Misrata were produced by the company Instalaza ...
[5]
Spain - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
In April 2011, in Libya, government forces of Muammar Gaddafi used MAT-120 cluster munitions manufactured by Instalaza SA in 2007. In June 2011, Spain ...
[6]
Supplier of Libyan cluster bombs claims compensation
May 17, 2011 · The little-known cluster bomb turned out to be a MAT-120 mortar ... With its MAT-120, Spanish company Instalaza was one of the first ...
[7]
[PDF] Ammunition Identification Guide - Bulletpicker
120mm mortar cluster munition containing 21 37mm dual purpose AP/AT submunitions, each submunition weighs. 275g with 50 g explosive filling. The action of ...
[8]
Mat 120 submunition - CAT-UXO
This is the Spanish MAT-120, a high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) 37mm submunition equipped with a self-destruct (SD) feature and delivered by the Spanish 120 ...Missing: military | Show results with:military
[9]
Instalaza S.A. - Army Guide
MAT-120 cargo mortar bomb for 120mm mortars, with 2l anti-tank/anti-personnel submunitions, each one with an electronic impact fuse with self-destruct and ...Missing: deployment | Show results with:deployment
[10]
120MM Mortar System - JPEO A&A
Range, Minimum 200 meters Maximum 7,200 meters. Rate of Fire Maximum (for 1 ... 120mm M120A1 Towed Mortar System. M120A1 Towed. The M120A1 Towed System ...Missing: MAT- | Show results with:MAT-
[11]
[PDF] Air Base Attacks and Defensive Counters - RAND
Nov 12, 2014 · dispense submunitions across an area with a radius of 18 m. See “120 mm MAT-120 Cargo Bomb,” Jane's Infantry. Weapons, updated October 11 ...
[12]
[PDF] A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF EXPLOSIVE SUBMUNITIONS
Advanced sensors, autonomous guidance packages, and ability to loiter above a target area are the new features of these advanced submunitions. Because of their ...
[13]
History – Instalaza
INSTALAZA is registered as “Sociedad Anónima”, as the successor of the previous Instalaciones Zaragoza, SL
[14]
Company – Instalaza
Founded in 1943, our company started activities in the defense sector in 1951, creating our own Research and Development Department and acquiring the necessary ...Missing: munitions | Show results with:munitions
[15]
[PDF] Investments of financial institutions in Instalaza 27 April 2011
Apr 27, 2011 · Instalaza S.A. ('Instalaza') was founded in 1943 and is based in Madrid, Spain. The privately- owned company designs, develops and ...Missing: history | Show results with:history<|separator|>
[16]
[PDF] Cluster weapons – military utility and alternatives - Kudos
Feb 1, 2008 · The bomblet is adapted to a wide range of cargo ammunition, like 120 mm mortar, field artillery of 122 mm, 152 mm and 155 mm, and to the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[17]
Following Up, Part 1: Battlefield Refuse, Social Media and Qaddafi's ...
Jun 10, 2011 · With the MAT-120 rounds, turning up the physical evidence was not difficult. When high-explosive munitions are fired and explode, they do not ...
[18]
Spanish Cluster Munitions and Bombs - Delas - Centre Delàs
Spanish media reports indicate that Instalaza have denied selling the MAT-120 weapons to Libya. When HRI contacted Instalaza, on a number of occasions, they ...
[19]
https://the-monitor.org/country-profile/spain/cluster-munition-ban-policy?year=2023
[20]
Arms Exports and Qaddafi's Cluster Bombs - The New York Times
Jun 22, 2011 · ... MAT-120 cluster munitions which had been produced by Spanish firm Instalaza SA. It therefore seems likely that in the same year that Spain ...
[21]
Libya: Cluster Munitions Strike Misrata | Human Rights Watch
Apr 15, 2011 · Based on the markings on the submunition found in Misrata, Libya used MAT-120 cluster munitions. These contain 21 dual-purpose submunitions ...
[22]
Gadhafi forces fire cluster bombs into civilian areas - NBC News
Apr 15, 2011 · The cluster munitions were visible in use late Thursday night, in the form of what appeared to be 120-millimeter mortar rounds that burst in the ...
[23]
Libya - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
Libya participated in three regional conferences held during the 2007–2008 Oslo Process that developed ... MAT-120 cluster munition in combat. Human Rights ...
[24]
Libya: Gaddafi forces 'using cluster bombs in Misrata' - The Guardian
Apr 15, 2011 · Forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi have fired cluster bombs into residential areas of the besieged city of Misrata, according to witnesses.
[25]
[PDF] Libya - Mine Action Review
Jul 27, 2019 · All parties to the conflict in Libya should ensure that forces loyal to them do not use cluster munitions.
[26]
Mine, Cluster Bomb Use Reported in Libya | Arms Control Association
Libyan pro-government forces fired mortar shells carrying cluster munitions over Misrata on the night of April 14, according to nongovernmental organizations.Missing: MAT- 120 Civil
[27]
[PDF] THE BATTLE FOR LIBYA - Amnesty International
Safe/arming devices for MAT-120 cluster munitions © Amnesty International ... Among those killed by cluster sub-munitions was. 12-year-old Hsein Mohammed ...
[28]
Convention text - The Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. Separate articles in the Convention ...
[29]
Convention on Cluster Munitions. Dublin, 30 May 2008 - UNTC
The Convention was concluded by the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions at Dublin on 30 May 2008. In accordance with its article 15, ...
[30]
The Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international treaty of more than 100 states. The Convention prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling ...Convention text · States Parties · Convention · Meetings of States Parties
[31]
[PDF] Convention on cluster munitions - ICRC
The process aimed at creating an international treaty to prohibit cluster munitions that cause “unacceptable suffering” to civilians. The process was open to ...
[32]
Spain - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
... development, manufacturing, sale, stockpiling, and ... As of July 2011, Instalaza SA continued to feature information on the MAT-120 on its website.
[33]
Spain Export Control Information - Bureau of Industry and Security
Export licensing in Spain is the responsibility of the Ministry of Economy, Department of Foreign Trade in Defense and Dual-Use items.
[34]
[PDF] The review of the EU Common Position on arms exports - SIPRI
Feb 21, 2011 · In 2007 Spain granted an export licence for the transfer of 1050 MAT-120 cluster munitions to Libya. They were delivered in March 2008.86 In ...
[35]
Libya - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
Spain confirmed transferring 1,055 MAT-120 cluster munitions containing 22,155 submunitions to Libya in 2006 and 2008. Libya has not shared information ...
[36]
Cluster Munitions and Artillery in Ukraine: Perun goes over DPICM ...
Jul 19, 2023 · The MAT-120 submunitions are unique in that to prevent the dangers of unexploded duds, there is a double redundant feature the manufacturer ...
[37]
[PDF] Cluster Munitions & Submunitions in Syria:
Nov 1, 2023 · The 9N235 utilises a 9E272 impact fuze, which is paired with a self-destruct mechanism that should initiate detonation between 110 seconds and.<|separator|>
[38]
IV. Cluster Munition Country Profiles - Human Rights Watch
Feb 22, 2007 · There are nine different 122mm cluster munition rockets manufactured by five different countries (China, Egypt, Italy, Russia, and Slovakia).
[39]
[PDF] MISRATAH – UNDER SIEGE AND UNDER FIRE
Apr 16, 2017 · On 15 April,. Amnesty International's delegate found several cluster submunitions in the area, as well as parts of the MAT-120 cargo mortar ...<|control11|><|separator|>
[40]
Meeting the Challenge: Protecting Civilians through the Convention ...
Nov 22, 2010 · Scored shells are intended to maim or kill people by breaking into fragments, while anti-armor devices serve to damage vehicles and materiel.
[41]
Why is the failure rate of cluster munitions so high? - Reddit
Oct 16, 2024 · The major downside of cluster munitions is the large quantity of UXO (unexploded ordinance). The rate is usually 3% to 5%, although EODs and mine clearance ...Cluster Munitions and Artillery in Ukraine: Perun goes over DPICM ...ELI5: Why are cluster munitions so notorious for leaving unexploded ...More results from www.reddit.com
[42]
[PDF] CLUSTER WEAPONS: NECESSITY OR CONVENIENCE?
Cluster weapons are disputed due to grave humanitarian consequences, high failure rates, and concerns about harm to civilians, raising questions about their ...
[43]
The Left Was Wrong, Wrong, Wrong on Cluster Munitions
Jul 14, 2023 · The Left's case against cluster munitions is twofold. First, cluster munitions are supposedly particularly dangerous for civilians after the fighting is over.
[44]
[PDF] Cluster Munitions: Should They be Banned?
While there are strong opponents and proponents of the cluster- munition ban, it is only with due consideration of their military utility versus humanitarian ...