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Russian army touts new bomb on television
Moscow (AFP) Sept 11, 2007 Russia's army on Tuesday unveiled a new seven-tonne explosive device on national television, touting the anti-terrorism bomb as four times more powerful than the strongest US explosives. The bomb "permits us state security and at the same time the ability to battle against international terrorism in any situation, in any region," Russian Army chief General Alexandre Rushkin said. The bomb, also known as a high-impulse thermobaric weapon, disperses a cloud of hydrocarbons. It explodes in a fraction of a second, setting the area on fire and emitting very strong heat. This technology originated from the Vietnam war, where American soldiers called it "daisy clippers" because it was used to deforest jungles with devastating effect. Rushkin likened the test results to the effects of a nuclear bomb. Russian television showed a 30-metre (98-foot) four-storey building reduced to rubble after it was hit by one of these 7,100 kilogramme (16,000 pound) bombs. No independent experts were interviewed regarding the still-unnamed bomb on Russian television and it is not possible to determine how new this bomb is or the veracity of the claims made by the Russian army. The Russian defence ministry was unreachable by telephone on Tuesday evening. The television programme insisted on the weapon's "conventional" character, and noted that Russia was not involved in a new arms race. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com
Stratotanker Celebrates 51 Years Of Military Service
Manas AFB, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) Sep 11, 2007As the Air Force celebrates its 60th anniversary later this month, the first all jet tanker-transport that has been the backbone for combat operations in Afghanistan isn't far behind. The KC-135 Stratotanker celebrated its birthday Aug. 31. It was 1956 -- 51 years ago -- when the Boeing aircraft made its maiden flight. |
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