August 20,
2008: Chinese made Airburst
anti-personnel RPG rockets have been discovered in Afghanistan, after first
being encountered in Iraq, where they were used by Iranian supported Shia
rebels. The Chinese made RPG rocket is optimized for anti-personnel effect. To
accomplish that, the shell bounces up about six feet, after first hitting the
ground. Then the 5.7 pound warhead explodes, releasing hundreds of metal
fragments. Casualties can be caused nearly fifty feet away. Because the warhead
explodes in the air, and is full of metal fragments, it is more than three
times as likely to kill or injure than the usual RPG warhead (which is designed
to penetrate armor). The "Airburst Anti-Personnel" rocket also has a
longer range (over 1,500 meters, more than twice that for the anti-armor
rocket).
Iran buys
these rockets from China, or maybe even makes its own copies. Iran denies
supplying weapons to the Taliban or al Qaeda (which are violently opposed to
the Shia brand of Islam practiced throughout Iran and southern Iraq.) But in
the past, Iran has aided al Qaeda, and Iranian gunrunners will sell weapons to
anyone who can pay.
