Russian thermobaric "vacuum bombs" launcher seen by CNN team in Ukraine

[yaesu]

A Russian thermobaric multiple rockets launcher has been spotted by CNN team south of Belgorod, Russia, near the Ukrainian border early Saturday afternoon.

The TOS-1 or TOS-1A Multiple Rocket Launcher seen by CNN is capable of launching rockets with thermobaric warheads.

There is no evidence that thermobaric weapons have been used in the conflict in Ukraine.

These types of weapons do not use conventional ammunition. Instead, they are filled with high-temperature, high-pressure explosive. They are sometimes called “vacuum bombs” because they suck in the oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a powerful explosion and a large pressure wave that can have enormous destructive effects.

Thermobaric weapons have been used in Chechnya, with horrifying consequences, according to Human Rights Watch. Their use has been condemned by number of non-governmental organizations.

These are made to literally crush people who are sheltering inside secured bunkers.

[blm]

1. What happens if those launchers are bombed from above?

[NewHendoLib]

2. shouldn't that be "thermobarbaric?"

[Mme. Defarge]

4. Good one!

[yaesu]

5. yes, it definitely is

A thermobaric weapon, aerosol bomb, or vacuum bomb is a type of explosive that uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature explosion. In practice, the blast wave typically produced by such a weapon is of a significantly longer duration than that of a conventional condensed explosive.

[RussBLib]

3. if Russia uses those on the people massed in the subways

that would probably break down any reticence NATO or the US might have against sending troops.

on their fellow countrymen? They claim Ukraine is Russia and they want to kill large numbers of Ukrainians?

[AlexSFCA]

6. we should already know by now to expect the worst and be prepared

e.g. intentional attack on civilians may include killing nato citizens, e.g., US, UK, etc. This should lead to prompt military response by their countries

[yaesu]

7. good point, this weapon actually works best on targets secured in reinforced shelters which make it

that much more hideous

[mitch96]

8. I can't remember where I read it and we used it against the taliban in the Afgan caves..

Same effect as the bombing of Dresden and Hamburg during ww2. We did not have thermobaric bombs but we did have massive amount of incendiary bombs that created firestorms. Sucked all the oxygen out peoples lungs
m

[yaesu]

9. I think these were 10k? pound bunker buster bombs, I think trump was the last pres to use one

, and on Afghanistan if I remember right, think its the biggest conventional bomb in our arsenal, he wanted it dropped because we had one left & he wanted to brag about it from what I read.

[mitch96]

11. He is just such a POS I can't stand it... nt

[marie999]

12. We did use them and something similar in Vietnam. The UK has used them in Syria.

[lapucelle]

14. It was Assad who used Russian-supplied thermobaric weapons in Syria. N/T

[marie999]

16. Yes, but the UK did admit to using them and admitted to killing 1 civilian with it.

They are not illegal by international law but should be.

[Lovie777]

10. Underground . ....

For the country that was attacked for really unbelievable measures and then the attacking country uses a weapon that basically can burn human bodies into ash within seconds or so, is a true violation of plain human life. This in itself is a criminal act against mankind.

[marie999]

17. Unfortunately, thermobaric weapons are legal under international law.

Using them specifically to kill civilians would be a war crime.

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. I saw Wes Clark comment about these on CNN today

He said that they have a range of 5 or 6 kilometers, so the Ukrainians must keep them from getting that close to dense urban areas. His entire interview was excellent. He is fervent in his support for Ukraine and its people.

[AntiFascist]

15. The use of these should motivate NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine n/t