3 years ago

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Thermobaric weapons use a mixture of fuel, air and powered metal to create a massive fireball and explosion. These munitions are very useful against bunkers or buildings.

Note that the term "Vacuum bomb" is a misnomer. The bomb does not create a vacuum like in space, although it does use the surrounding oxygen in the air for use in the oxidization process.

Media:

Grain Silo Explosion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JZvjBoCGM

Combustible dust explosion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5JZvjBoCGM

References:

How Grain Silos explode:
https://khqa.com/news/local/why-grain-bins-explode

US grain dust explosions decline in 2021
https://www.bakingbusiness.com/articles/55721-us-grain-dust-explosions-decline-in-2021

1 hurt in explosion at Elmore County grain silo
https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/mountain-home-grain-silo-explosion/277-3999133a-3adb-44d9-a655-ed1e6023539e

Grain silo explosion injures one in Canada
https://www.hazardexonthenet.net/article/184310/Grain-silo-explosion-injures-one-in-Canada.aspx

The danger of explosion in grain silos
https://www.cortemgroup.com/en/news/the-danger-of-explosion-in-grain-silos

Grain silo explodes in Eastern France
https://www.world-grain.com/articles/10479-grain-silo-explodes-in-eastern-france

MoD accidentally reveals British drones firing thermobaric missiles in Syria
https://dronewars.net/2018/05/02/mod-accidentally-reveals-british-drones-firing-thermobaric-missiles-in-syria/

NASA - 10 interesting things about air
https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2491/10-interesting-things-about-air/#:~:text=Air%20is%20mostly%20gas&text=The%20air%20in%20Earth's%20atmosphere,dioxide%2C%20neon%2C%20and%20hydrogen.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/is-humid-air-heavier-than-dry-air.htm

https://www.icrc.org/en/war-and-law/weapons

Quenching the wild wells of Kuwait
Richard L. Garwin and Henry W. Kendall
https://rlg.fas.org/Taming%20Wild%20Wells%20of%20Kuwait%20354011a0(2).pdf

RShG-1 Russia’s Latest Thermobaric Grenade
Adam Geibel
Infantry Magazine
September - December 2000

The Russian Way of War
Dr. Lester Grau, Charles K Bartles

Effect of metal powders on explosion of fuel-air explosives with delayed secondary igniters
Defense Technology
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214914720303408#!
Yong-xuWang, Yi Liu, Qi-ming Xu, Bin Li, Li-feng Xie
Media: