The most powerful non-nuclear weapon

Vacuum or thermobaric bomb in their power almost equal nuclear weapons. But unlike the latter, it does not threaten the use of radiation and global environmental catastrophe.

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The first test of the vacuum charge was carried out in 1943 by a group of German chemists led by Mario Zippermauer (Mario Zippermayr). The principle of operation of the device prompted the accident at the milling industry and mines, which often occur volumetric explosions. It is therefore used as an explosive ordinary coal dust. The fact is that by this time the fascist Germany has experienced a serious shortage of explosives, mainly TNT. However, to bring to the real production this idea failed.

In fact, the term "vacuum bombs" from a technical point of view is not correct. In fact - this is a classic thermobaric weapons, which fire spreads under great pressure. As the majority of explosives, it is fuel-oxidant premix. The difference is that in the former case there is an explosion from a point source, and the second - flame front covers a considerable amount. All this is accompanied by a strong shock wave. For example, when 11 December 2005 in an empty store oil terminal in Hertfordshire (England) volumetric explosion occurred, then 150 km from the epicenter of people woke up from that rattled the glass in the windows.

First thermobaric weapons used in Vietnam to clear jungle, primarily for helipads. The effect was stunning. It was enough to throw three or four of these explosive devices volumetric and helicopter "Iroquois" could land in the most unexpected places for guerrillas.

In fact, it was the 50-liter high pressure cylinders, with braking parachute, which opens on tridtsatimetrovoy height. Approximately five meters from the ground squib destroyed shell, and under pressure from the gas cloud was formed, and which explodes. At the same time, fuel-air bombs used in substances and mixtures were not anything special. These were ordinary methane, propane, acetylene, ethylene oxide and propylene.
Soon it became clear empirically that thermobaric weapons have enormous destructive force in confined spaces, such as in tunnels, caves and bunkers, but not suitable in windy conditions, under water and at high altitudes. There were attempts to use in the Vietnam War thermobaric rounds of large caliber, but they were not effective.



1 February 2000, immediately after the next test thermobaric bombs, Human Rights Watch, an expert of the CIA, described its action as follows: "The focus of the bulk of the explosion is unique and extremely dangerous for life. First on the people caught in the affected area, high pressure burning mixture, and then - vacuum, vacuum actually tearing the lungs. All this is accompanied by severe burns, including internal, as many have time to breathe premix fuel and oxidizing ».

However, with a light hand of journalists, this weapon is called the vacuum bomb. Interestingly, in the 90s of the last century, some experts believe that the people who died from the "vacuum bombs", if found themselves in space. Like, in the explosion instantly burned off oxygen, and for some time formed an absolute vacuum. So, a military expert Terry Garder of the journal Jane, said the use of Russian troops "vacuum bombs" against Chechen rebels in the village of Semashko. His report said that those killed had no external injuries and died of a broken light.

In just seven years, 11 September 2007, on the thermobaric bomb spoke as the most powerful non-nuclear weapons. "The test results established aircraft munitions have shown that it is their efficiency and capabilities commensurate with the nuclear weapon," - said the former head of the SEI, Colonel General Alexander Rukshin. It was about the most destructive in the world of innovation thermobaric weapons.

New Russian aviation ordnance was four times more powerful than the largest US vacuum bomb. Pentagon experts immediately declared that the Russian data exaggerated, at least twice. And a spokesman for US President George Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino on brifinge18 September 2007 issue sarcastic than Americans answer the Russian attack, said she first heard about it.

Meanwhile, John Pike of the analytical center GlobalSecurity, agrees with the stated capacity, which said Alexander Rukshin. He wrote: "The Russian military and scientists have been pioneers in the development and use of thermobaric weapons. This new history of weapons. " If nuclear weapons are a priori constraint because of the possibility of radioactive contamination, the super-powerful thermobaric bombs, according to him, for sure, will be used "hot head" generals from different countries.

In 1976, the UN passed a resolution in which weapons volumetric called "inhumane weapon of war, causing unnecessary suffering people." However, this document is not binding and does not explicitly prohibit the use of thermobaric bombs. That is why from time to time in the media message appears "vacuum bombing." Since August 6, 1982 Israeli aircraft attacked a thermobaric ammunition American-made Libyan troops. And recently edition "Telegraph" reported on the use of Syrian military fuel explosive bombs in Raqqa, killing 14 people. Although, this attack was not made chemical weapons, the international community demands ban the use of thermobaric weapons in the cities.