"The new FZ123 warhead is filled with thousands of tiny steel pellets blasted out by two pounds of high-explosive material. When the warhead detonates, the pellets burst out in an area of about 80 feet in diameter to take down a drone or drone swarm, much like the way birdshot spreads from a shotgun shell. Depending on how far the rocket has been flying, the steel balls can be spread even wider."
"Thales Belgium hosted Business Insider at one of its production facilities in the eastern city of Herstal to give us a closer look at the warhead and its delivery rockets. Thomas Colinet, Thales Belgium's domain director for vehicles and tactical systems, confirmed that the weapon is being deployed in Ukraine, and that Kyiv's demand is greater than what the firm can produce. "The good thing for us is, if they are asking for more, it means they are happy with it," said Colinet."
Thales Belgium adapted 70mm rockets with an FZ123 airburst warhead filled with thousands of tiny steel pellets propelled by two pounds of explosive. The warhead detonates to scatter pellets across roughly an 80-foot diameter, creating a steel cloud that can disable individual drones or swarms and spread wider depending on range. The system offers a low-cost counter to NATO Class II and heavier Class III loitering munitions, including Shahed drones, with effective engagements up to 10,000 feet. Production is active in Herstal, Belgium, and Ukrainian demand for the weapon currently exceeds Thales' production capacity.
Read at Business Insider
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