China introduced a “new type” of massive aerial bomb. According to some experts, it would be a thermobaric weapon similar to the American “mother of all bombs”. What is it precisely?
A recent post published on Twitter allows us to have a more complete look at a mysterious bomb developed by China. The image shows no specific details, just that it appears to be dropped from the bay of a Xian H-6 series bomber. This bomb first appeared in 2019 in a promotional video montage (see below) of Chinese state defense conglomerate China North Industries Group Corporation Limited, or NORINCO.
China’s arms industry giant NORINCO for the first time showcased a new type of massive aerial bomb, which it dubbed the Chinese version of the “Mother of All Bombs” due to its huge destruction potential that is claimed to be only second to nuclear weapons. https://t.co/Xwa470K0R5 pic.twitter.com/bWDvmfvcyk
— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 3, 2019
A thermobaric bomb
Earlier reports indicated that it may be a thermobaric type. These weapons, also known as “vacuum bombs”, create more powerful and devastating explosions than conventional weapons of the same size by detonating a vapor in the blast area.
In detail, these thermobaric weapons have a volatile fuel tank and two explosive charges. After firing or firing, a first explosion opens the tank at a determined altitude and disperses its content, which mixes with the ambient air. A second charge then initiates the explosion of this mixture before hitting the ground, producing an overpressure 1.5 to 2 times more powerful than a conventional bomb. The result is a cloud of plasma that reaches temperatures between 2,500 and 3,000°C capable of penetrating small openings, such as those in armored buildings. Immediately after the explosion there is also an air depression producing a reverse blast effect.
The “mother” and “father” of all bombs
One of the best known weapons is probably the MOAB GBU-43/B (Massive ordinance air blast bomb which is an American heavy artillery blast effect bomb. Also known as the “Mother of All Bombs”, it is filled with a mixture of TNT, aluminum powder and a chemical component, cyclomethylene trinitramine (a nitro explosive).
The MOAB, initially designed as a deterrent weapon, can be dropped by a C-130 type transport aircraft before being guided by satellite, which allows it to precisely hit its target. Its explosive power, comparable to our tonnes of TNThowever, is only one-thirtieth that of the smallest nuclear bomb American.
The United States reportedly used the weapon for the first time against Daesh in April 2017, killing 36 fighters.
However, the most powerful thermobaric bomb in the world is probably Russian. Nicknamed the “Father of all bombs”, it would be four times more powerful than the American MOAB. The bomb, which carried out its first test in real conditions in September 2007, would indeed contain, according to the Russian army, 7.1 tonnes of an explosive created using nanotechnology, generating the equivalent of forty-four tons of TNT.