Precision Under Pressure: 3D Documentation and Modeling of a Warhead for Global Weapons Smuggling Federal Case

In January 2024, two U.S. Navy SEALs lost their lives during a maritime interdiction operation off the coast of Somalia while attempting to board an unflagged vessel later linked to a weapons smuggling network supporting Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program. The operation recovered sophisticated Iranian-made missile components, including parts for ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles and an intact warhead. The forensic documentation of this warhead became a critical component in the subsequent federal prosecution of Pakistani national Muhammad Pahlawan, convicted in 2025 of multiple terrorism and weapons smuggling offenses in the Eastern District of Virginia.

This presentation provides a detailed case study on the advanced 3D documentation and modeling workflows employed to support this high-profile investigation and courtroom presentation. Over a three-week period, a three-person forensic documentation team used terrestrial LiDAR scanning to capture the warhead and associated components in high fidelity. The scan data served as the foundation for multiple derived products, including precise digital models, technical diagrams, and a full-scale physical replica for courtroom demonstrative use.

This rapid-turnaround effort required meticulous coordination across disciplines of forensic metrology, data processing, and visualization under strict security and evidentiary protocols. The project illustrates how 3D scanning enables investigators to create multiple deliverables—from scaled digital exhibits to tangible physical models—while preserving evidentiary integrity and scientific accuracy.