Technology
Thermobaric Weapons
The what, how, where and why of these simple, cheap and devastating devices which skirt the edges of the Geneva Conventions
This subject has been sitting on my draft folder for a few months now and video circulating online recently finally brought it to the top of my pile. So, I’ve taken a deep dive into the subject.
What are thermobaric explosions?
As the name would suggest, they combine thermal and pressure effects to decimate targets — heat (“thermo-”) and pressure (“-baric”) that characterise the explosion.
The weapons are also known as “vacuum bombs” or “fuel-air explosives (FAEs)”. These devices create highly devastating blasts, different in their nature and effect from conventional explosives.
Mechanism of Thermobaric Explosions
Thermobaric weapons operate in two primary stages. In the initial phase, the weapon disperses a cloud of highly flammable fuel into the target area. This aerosolised fuel, which can be a variety of substances ranging from powdered metals to certain volatile liquids, rapidly mixes with the surrounding air.
