Thermobaric weapon
A thermobaric weapon, aerosol bomb, fuel air explosive, or vacuum bomb[1] is a type of explosive that uses oxygen from the surrounding air to create a high-temperature explosion.
This can be launched as a rocket or dropped from an airplane as a bomb.[2]
Effects
In 2000, Human Rights Watch quoted United States authorities, on how the blast's "kill mechanism against living [things or] targets is unique—and unpleasant. ... What kills is the pressure wave, and more importantly, the subsequent [vacuum or] rarefaction, which ruptures the lungs. ... If the fuel [burns or] deflagrates but does not [... explode], victims will be severely burned and will probably also [... breathe] the burning fuel. [... The] most common FAE fuels [or fuel-air explosion fuels], ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, are highly toxic"; Breathing unexploded FAE adds to the risk of (related) death.[3]
Weapons and warheads
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- TOS-1 (ТОС-1),[4] a multiple rocket launcher (or MRLS)
Thermobaric Weapon Media
Blast from a US Navy fuel–air explosive used against a decommissioned ship, USS McNulty, 1972
A BLU-72/B bomb on a USAF A-1E taking off from Nakhon Phanom in Thailand, in September 1968
A Soviet RPO-A Shmel (Bumblebee) rocket and launcher
US Navy BLU-118B being prepared for shipping for use in Afghanistan, 5 March 2002
Dust explosion, continuous shooting; flour-dust is dispersed by compressed air and ignited by a detonator.
Finely-ground flour is dispersed
Dust explosion, continuous shooting; flour-dust is dispersed by compressed air and ignited by a detonator.
Dust explosion, continuous shooting; flour-dust is dispersed by compressed air and ignited by a detonator.
Intense radiant heat has nothing to ignite here
Fireball and superheated gases rise
_sunk_as_target_with_FAE_1972.jpg)
References
- ↑ Harrison, Virginia (2022-03-01). "What are thermobaric weapons and how do they work?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
- ↑ "Ukraine conflict: What is a vacuum or thermobaric bomb?". BBc News: 1. March 2, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60571395. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
- ↑ "Backgrounder on Russian Fuel Air Explosives ("Vacuum Bombs") | Human Rights Watch". Hrw.org. 1 February 2000. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
- ↑ https://www.aftenposten.no/verden/i/WjP0ok/meter-for-meter-kommer-russerne-naermere-slik-utkjempes-slaget-i-donbas. Aftenposten. Retrieved 1 June 2022
- ↑ [Putin's deadliest weapon: «The burning sun»] (in Norwegian) https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/putins-dodeligste-vapen-den-brennende-sol/s/5-95-1031143. Nettavisen.no. Retrieved 2023-04-14
