Depleted Uranium Weapons update, November 16, 2025

[Ellen Thomas]

From the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, via The Nuclear Resister:

https://www.icbuw.eu/du-weapons-and-platforms-list-2025-update/

DU Weapons and Platforms List: 2025 Update

16 November 2025 ICBUW, Publications

In light of persistent allegations that depleted uranium may have been used in Tomahawk cruise missiles, selected air- or ship-launched bombs, certain “bunker-buster” munitions, and specific landmine models, we are introducing a new section—Chapter VIII: Unconfirmed / Disputed Reports—as an amendment to ICBUW’s DU Weapons and Platforms List. This chapter consolidates cases where credible concerns have been raised but conclusive verification remains outstanding.

Chapter VIII Unconfirmed / Disputed Reports

A number of weapon types have occasionally been mentioned in secondary or informal sources as possibly containing depleted-uranium components—among them Tomahawk cruise missiles, certain aerial or ship-launched bombs, so-called “bunker-buster” munitions, and some landmine models. However, after decades of investigation, no verifiable technical, contractual, or forensic evidence has emerged to substantiate these claims. In the absence of such proof, and consistent with the principle that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, ICBUW considers these reports unsubstantiated. Repeating them without corroboration risks confusing the public and weakening advocacy for the verified cases where uranium weapons are known to exist. Unless and until credible primary evidence is presented, these alleged systems will remain unconfirmed and excluded from ICBUW’s verified list of uranium weapons.

Technical Note:

Depleted uranium armour-piercing munitions are slender, solid, dense metal penetrators that defeat armour through kinetic energy and depleted uranium’s unique self-sharpening effects (adiabatic shearing). By contrast, “bunker-buster” or cruise-missile warheads are explosive devices encased by a hardened metal shroud designed to breach earth or reinforced concrete using shaped-charge or blast mechanisms. These are fundamentally different design principles. There is no technical or operational rationale for using DU in explosive or earth-penetrating warheads shrouds. For this reason, ICBUW has found no credible evidence or documentation supporting such systems.

The 2025 updated list is available for download here: DU Weapons List 2025

Jack Cohen-Joppa

Steering Group – ICBUW

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