Last week, the United States announced two new military aid packages for Ukraine. One of these, disclosed on September 7, includes ammunition for HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, 105-mm caliber artillery shells, electronic warfare and counter-electronic warfare equipment, demolition munitions for obstacle clearing, as well as training equipment for the Ukrainian army – all worth $600 million.
Russia has expressed concern over this news but, to be fair, the hype around uranium shells causes a lot more discussionabout them compared to other types of ammunition. Let’s start from the beginning and explore the matter in greater detail.
Basic Q&A about depleted uranium shells
– Why do the shells contain depleted uranium?
Depleted uranium is a dense, heavy metal that is convenient for making the core of armor-piercing shells.
– Does Russia have such shells?
Yes. Armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber shells (BOPS) 3BM29/30 ‘Nadfil-2’ have a depleted uranium core; 3BM32 ‘Vant’ are monoblock BOPS made of an alloy based on depleted uranium, and so are 3BM46 ‘Svinets’ shells and some others.
– What are such shells made of besides depleted uranium?
In some shells, the core is made of tungsten carbide.