OVERVIEW: The Runway Attack Munition (RAM) is a modern cluster bomb developed for rapid and effective denial of enemy airfields by disabling runways.

DETAIL: Introduced around 2001, the RAM was designed to replace older anti-runway weapons with a more precise and rapidly deployable solution. The bomb dispenser carries 24 runway penetrator submunitions, each equipped with a delayed-action shaped charge designed to penetrate runway surfaces before detonating. This creates craters and internal spalling that are difficult to repair quickly, thereby maximizing runway downtime.

The submunitions are ejected in a pre-programmed pattern, ensuring coverage across large areas of runway or taxiway infrastructure. Once deployed, each penetrator is equipped with a hard-target fuze and tail-fin stabilization to ensure nose-first impact. The penetrators can pierce reinforced concrete before detonation, making the RAM highly effective against hardened airbases.

The RAM system is deployed from tactical aircraft such as the F-16, Mirage 2000, or Tornado IDS, and is typically used in pre-emptive strikes or early stages of a conflict to neutralize enemy air operations. Its precision and fragmentation pattern make it particularly suited for quick runway denial missions with minimal collateral damage outside the intended target zone.

NOTE:
IOC: ~2001
Operators: Classified (suspected use by NATO members)
Platform: F-16, Mirage 2000, Tornado IDS, F/A-18
Conflicts: Not publicly confirmed

SOURCE:
Jane’s Weapons: Air-Launched ; NATO Air-to-Ground Munitions Handbook ; European Defence Agency (EDA) Reports ; U.S. Air Force Armament Museum ; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) https://fas.org ; https://www.eda.europa.eu ; https://www.janes.com