Iran Military Facility Hit By Drone Attack: How Do Ammunition, Gunpowder Behave in Fires?

The defense ministry complex of Iran, which stores and assembles weapons, in the city of Isfahan was surprised by a drone attack that caused an explosion. The New York Times reports that the attack on Saturday, January 28, was the work of Israel's premier intelligence Mossad.

The facility's function was unclear, as was the extent of the damage suffered by the hit. However, the city is a key location for the country's missile manufacture, research, and development, including the assembly of several of Iran's Shahab medium-range missiles capable of reaching Israel and beyond.

Explosions at the Ammunition Manufacturing Center in Isfahan

A few weeks ago, American authorities report that Iran is still supplying drones to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and claimed that Russia is attempting to secure Iranian missiles that it will use for the battle. On the other hand, US officials think that the recent drone attack on Iran's ammunition manufacturing center in Isfahan was due to Israel's worries about its own security.

The Jerusalem Post reported that small drones were targeting the centers around 11 pm on Saturday. Defensive measures were able to detonate two of the planes over the complex, while the third one caused damage to the market of the military complex.

Iran said that there was some damage on the roof due to the attack, although they claimed it did not result in any disruption of operations. However, contrary to their report, other news agencies claimed that three explosions were heard in the facility and there was a fire near a factory in the northern city of Tabriz.

Moreover, some videos and photos show a glowing light in the sky in West Azerbaijan. Iranian media said it coincided with the earthquake that occurred in the area so it is unclear if these reports were confused with the drone attack.

Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iran's foreign minister, stated during a press conference in Tehran on Sunday that the cowardly drone attack on their military facility would not hamper the development of the country's peaceful nuclear program.

Exploding Ammunition: How Do They Behave When on Fire?

According to an article in Bev Fitchett's Guns, all current cartridges employ smokeless powder. An ignited gun produces heat and gas, both of which are originally contained within the chamber, triggering chemical reactions of combustion as the pressure of the gas rises that caused an instantaneous burning and an explosion to occur.

But this explosion happens only when the smokeless powder is burned in a confined location, such as a gun chamber. Outside of a cannon, the powder can only be ignited by a fast, intense flame.

It is also important to note that ammunition should never be thrown into a fire or any kind of extremely hot place as it may cause significant injuries near the area. The gunpowder would explode and release gases, although the bullet is unlikely to leave the case.

Technology.org explains that expanding gases would escape through a path of least resistance, which is the wall of the case, but it is still most likely that the bullet would remain in place.

An exploding gunpowder does not tear a new hole at the side when it is fired from the gun, unlike when it is exposed to fire because the latter's path is through the bullet. That is why modern guns are designed with tight tolerances and significant heft to withstand the pressure extended to the sides of the cartridge.

Nonetheless, it is still not recommended for ammunition or gunpowder to be thrown or to be near a fire as there is still a chance that a bullet might shoot out or a piece of the case could injure someone. Although in the recent drone attack in Iran, the country claims not to record any casualties after explosions were detected.

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