Human Rights Watch Misidentified Cluster Bomb
Venik
* Sep. 1st, 2008 at 3:02 PM
For the original article and photos, visit:
http://venik4.livejournal.com/18645.html
Human Rights Watch has published a photo of what it claims to be a
Russian RBK-250 cluster bomb found in the Georgian village of Ruisi,
near the border with South Ossetia. The caption to the photo published
by HRW reads:
"Georgians look at the remains of a bomb dropped by a Russian aircraft
on the village of Ruisi, near South Ossetia, Tuesday, August 12, 2008.
Human Rights Watch has identified the weapon as a RBK-250 cluster bomb."
Below is the original screenshot from the HRW Web gallery and here is a
link to a digitally enlarged image. (If you have a higher resolution
version of this photo, please send it to me.)
The moment I saw the photo, it was clear to me that this was not the
7-foot-long RBK-250. Below is a small collection of photos depicting
several RBK-250 bombs. Notice the size and shape of the tail section,
particularly at the point where the tailcone connects to the tail
stabilizers. Also notice the round stabilizer on the tail of the
RBK-250. All these characteristic design features are missing on the
weapon in the photo published by Human Rights Watch. Take a look at the
shape of the tail fins: the fins on the RBK-250 are longer and have a
rounded leading corner.
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/lj/wp_originals/Georgia/Cluster%20Munitions/RBK-250_001.jpg
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/lj/wp_originals/Georgia/Cluster%20Munitions/cluster/p0074257.jpg
Soviet-/Russian-made RBK-250 cluster bombs
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/lj/wp_originals/Georgia/Cluster%20Munitions/Russian_aviation_bombs_001.jpg
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/lj/wp_originals/Georgia/Cluster%20Munitions/FAB-250-M46.jpg
Several types of Russian aviation bombs, including the 7-foot long
RBK-250 (first from the right). The photo of a man standing next to a
FAB-250 bomb (third from the left in the first photo) should give a
sense of scale. As you can see, the RBK-250 bomb is considerably larger
than the bomb on the HRW photo.
http://www.aeronautics.ru/img/lj/wp_originals/Georgia/Cluster%20Munitions/jeod0534_3.jpg
Cutaway diagram of a Russian RBK-250-275, showing the payload of AO-1SCh
bomblets (Source: JEOD, Jane's)
Today someone took care of updating the Wikipedia "Cluster bombs"
article with some relevant information about the use of such weapons in
Georgia:
"According to Human Rights Watch, the Russian Air Force dropped RBK-250
cluster bombs in populated areas during the war in Georgia, killing at
least 11 civilians and injuring dozens: "this is the first known use of
cluster munitions since 2006, during Israel’s war with Hezbollah in
Lebanon" - the group said.[1] However, according to Ove Dullum, Chief
Scientist of the Norwegian defence institute FFI, the photos on the
Human Rights Watch web site actually showed bomblets made in Israel, as
it was identical to one of the kinds of bomblets used in the 2006
Israel-Lebanon conflict. The claim came in an interview with Sveriges
Radio, and was also aired on NRK radio. He told that both HRW as well as
the NPA (which upon the rumours about the use of bomblets had launched a
protest against Russia), had received this info from him. [2] Human
Rights Watch said on September 1 that Georgia had admitted to using
cluster bombs during the hostilities in South Ossetia, The Associated
Press and AFP reported.[8] “Georgian armed forces have GRADLAR 160
multiple launch rocket system and rockets of MK4 LAR 160 type (with M85
bomblets) with the range of 45 kilometers,” the Georgian MoD said.[9]"
The photo published by HRW is clearly not that of an RBK-250. If you can
ID the weapon on the HRW photo, let me know.
--
Venik
-------------------------------
http://venik4.livejournal.com/