RBK-250

The RBK-250 is a Soviet/Russian cluster bomb. RBK stands for Razovaya Bombovaya Kasseta (Russian: Разовая Бомбовая Кассета), which translates to "single-use bomb cassette". This indicates that the weapon is a disposable container designed to release multiple submunitions.

The RBK-250 contains a variety of different types of submunitions depending on its specific variant. These can include:

• AO-2.5RT: High-explosive fragmentation submunitions, designed to inflict damage through blast and shrapnel.
• PTAB-2.5M: Anti-tank submunitions, designed to penetrate armored vehicles.
• ShOAB-0.5: Anti-personnel submunitions.
• Other variants: The RBK-250 has been adapted to carry other types of bomblets throughout its operational history.

The RBK-250 is designed to be dropped from aircraft. After release, the bomb cassette opens, dispersing the submunitions over a wide area. This area-saturation effect makes cluster bombs like the RBK-250 effective against dispersed targets, soft targets, and armored vehicles.

The use of cluster bombs is controversial due to the potential for unexploded submunitions to remain in the area after the attack, posing a long-term threat to civilians. These unexploded bomblets can function as landmines, detonating years after the conflict and causing injury or death. As such, many nations have signed treaties banning their use, production, transfer, and stockpiling. However, Russia and the United States are not signatories to these treaties and continue to maintain stockpiles of cluster munitions.