The following definition of CM was proposed by the United Nations.
1. Cluster Munitions Containers designed to disperse or release multiple sub-munitions
Notes
- This definition includes containers or parents that are carried on or delivered by an aerial platform (e.g. an airplane or helicopter), or fired from ground or sea-based systems (e.g. a rocket launcher, artillery gun, naval gun, missile or mortar).
- This definition includes containers variously referred to as cluster bombs, cluster weapon systems, cluster dispensers, cluster munitions shells, etc.
- This definition only refers to conventional weapons.
2. Sub-munitions Any munition that, to perform its tasks, separates from a parent munition (IMAS 04.10).
Notes
- This definition includes all munitions/explosive ordnance designed to explode at some point in time following dispersal or release from the parent cluster munition.
- This definition includes munitions that are sometimes referred to as bomblets (e.g. from air-dropped cluster munitions), grenades (e.g. from ground-launched artillery, rocket or missile systems), remotely delivered landmines and “improved conventional munitions”.
- This definition only refers to conventional weapons.
Source: CCW/GGE/X/WG.1/WP.3
