US supplied Ukraine with M2A4 demolition charges

The United States supplies the Ukrainian Defence Forces with M2A4 high explosive charges.

A Ukrainian soldier told ZAXID.NET about the use of these charges.

The 15-pound M2A4 shaped charge-based, demolition charge, which is designed to produce holes in reinforced concrete, armor plate, soils and other materials.

According to the US developers, the charge is intended to be placed and detonated in difficult terrain where the military plans to establish defensive positions.

However, the Ukrainian military is adapting the M2A4 explosive charges to aerial munitions dropped from heavy drones.

“It can destroy bridges, fortifications and pierce concrete,” the Ukrainian military said.

The M2A4 charge contains explosives in an olive-gray, conical-cylindrical glass fiber case.

A glass cone is inserted into the lower part of the case to form a cumulative notch when the case is filled with explosives, to retain the explosives and to protect the notch from mechanical damage.

An intermediate 50-gram detonator is inserted into the upper part of the charge through a hole in the upper plane, which has a channel for the detonator inside.

A wooden lens is placed between the intermediate detonator and the cumulative notch inside the charge, which is designed to ensure that the detonation is transmitted to the far end of the charge simultaneously with the central part of the charge.

A cylindrical fiberglass mold is attached to the bottom of the charge to ensure that the charge is positioned at the most favorable distance from the surface to be penetrated. When the charge is detonated, this mold acts as a charge support. A handle for transporting the charge is attached to the side surface.

In 2023, Ukrainian military engineers were supplied with M1A3 Bangalore charges to combat obstacles.