Thermobarics

From 9/11 Encyclopedia:

On August 1st 2001, the Dtra released an official paper on a new microwave weapon system called thermobarics,
which had been mirored at http://cryptome.org/tbw-paper.htm (Cryptome.Org): 

August 1, 2001 DRAFT FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY POINT PAPER FOR THE DTRA THERMOBARIC ACTD SUBJECT: Thermobaric (TB) Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) OPERATIONAL NEED: Improved operational capability to defeat critical mission equipment in complex tunnel targets. This ACTD is responding to requirements derived from the following: Special CINC and Joint Staff requests for a tunnel defeat weapon. Capstone Requirements Document (CRD) for "Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat" (HDBTD) approved by the JROC Jan 01 and signed by the sponsoring CINCs, USSTRATCOM and USSOCOM. USFK Mission Need Statement. ACC-USSTRATCOM Mission Need Statement (CAF 317-92). 

Joint Warfighter's Capability Objective of the Joint Warfighting Science and Technology Plan OPERATIONAL SPONSOR: US Forces Korea is the proposed CINC sponsor for this ACTD. TECHNICAL MANAGER: DTRA TDSH is the proposed technical manager for this ACTD. SERVICE SPONSOR: The USAF is the proposed service sponsor for the TB weapon system. The program will be closely coordinated with Navy explosive payload development activities. ACTD OBJECTIVE: The objective of the TB ACTD is to leverage existing concepts and work in energetic payloads technology to weaponize, demonstrate, and deliver within three years an improved weapon system for the functional defeat of tunnel targets. 

December 21nd, 10 AM : Pete Aldridge, under secretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, confirms a new BioDefense Budget, included in the QDR and talks about the UAVs [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles] over Afghanistan and the signals intelligence [SIGINT] platform on the Global Hawk. He confirms the thermobaric weapons which had been used in Torabora. "...we skipped a laser-guided bomb into a tunnel and exploded it with a delay fuse.." http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/t12212001_t1221atl.html

The thermobaric warhead, 2.5 meters in length, is attached to a laser guidance system. The bombs release two explosions: the first blast scatters solid-fuel particles throughout the underground labyrinth. Then, a delayed fuse ignites the explosive mixture. Temperatures can reach as high as 1600 °C (more than twice the temperature of conventional explosives), turning air into fire. The fireball travels at supersonic speeds and produces huge pressure impulses, which propagate for quite a time. Thus, to a greater degree than more conventional ordnance, thermobaric weapons are designed to spread their lethal effects throughout the length and breadth of an underground cave and more effectively kill or immobilize enemy soldiers within, without destroying the structure itself. Forces may then search cave dwellings or bunkers for the remains of sought-after human targets.

Destroying bio agents by thermobarics: The possibility that thermobaric explosives might end up spewing toxins into the atmosphere is another worry. Because of it, alternatives are being assessed. To avoid contamination of the area, other weapons can be deployed, for example "high-power microwaves that fry the electronics pumping energy to an [underground] weapons facility," said Michael Vickers, director of strategic studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (Washington, D.C.). Source: http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache:GhwuZNBkLREC:www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/wonews/nov02/thermo.html+thermobarics&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

"....The thermobaric bomb releases and then detonates a fine cloud of high-explosive chemicals, creating devastating shock waves that destroy everything -and everyone -- inside a cave, bunker or building. Using a device called a Viper -- a portable laser range finder, digital map display and Global Positioning System receiver..." http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16892-2002Mar25?language=printer

"Nuclear weapons have a unique ability" to destroy WMD targets, compared to the limited options available now. Development of a new, low-yield nuclear weapon for this purpose is an option because such a weapon could "achieve the needed neutralization" of WMD agents with fewer "weapon-produced collateral effects" than would be unleashed by using existing nuclear weapons not designed to destroy WMD targets, it adds. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2002/01/020104-AFw1s4.htm

Pete Albridge confirmed, that they "tested one out in Nevada just recently, where we skipped a laser-guided bomb into a tunnel and exploded it with a delay fuse, and experienced a significant growth in overpressure for the tunnel and temperature. It's something that we clearly have a need for in Afghanistan, and they're on their way over there..." Source: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2001/t12212001_t1221atl.html

In fact the thermobarics system included a similar technique to that used by the BLU-82 bomb, the "daisy cutter," which the Pentagon has dropped several times over al-Qaida or Taliban targets. "Thermobarics" or vacuum bombs, the munitions release fuel vapor that spreads throughout a tunnel before it is ignited, sucking out oxygen and creating extreme pressure under ignition. (MSNBC) Already in Summer 2001, military scientists of Nuclear Watch of New Mexico and Albuquerque News speculated about the use of new mini nukes, when they monitored highly increased radiation at some US Military Bases.