WOT: Explosives Expert (Vietnamese-American in charge of developing bunker-buster)

Washington Post ^ | 04/27/06 | Robin Tierney

[TigerLikesRooster]

Explosives Expert Anh Duong, 46, Laurel

By Robin Tierney Special to The Washington Post Sunday, April 30, 2006; Page M03

Explosives expert Anh Duong led the team that, in just 67 days, developed the first U.S. thermobaric bomb -- a device that detonates a cloud of chemicals and creates shock waves that destroy everything in its range. Called the "bunker buster," the weapon was designed to destroy enemy cave and tunnel command posts in the post-Sept. 11 Afghanistan war. Now, as a science advisor at the Pentagon, she devises anti-terrorism technologies.

Duong, who at age 15 fled Vietnam with her family, has had a busy year. She's featured in the new book, "Changing Our World: True Stories of Women Engineers" (American Society of Civil Engineers, 2006), as well as in "Why We Fight," the award-winning 2005 film about foreign policy and the U.S. military, in which she discusses bombmaking and her perspectives on war. And on Wednesday at 10 p.m., the Discovery Channel documentary series "Future Weapons" probes the secretive world of high-tech weapons and their masterminds -- including Duong.

What motivated you to go into chemical engineering and weapons development?

I hardly knew any English when I first came to the U.S., so I thought I would fare better in school if I concentrated on math, physics and chemistry. Why weapons development? Because I wanted to work for U.S. defense. As a war refugee, I never forget the American and Vietnamese soldiers who kept me safe.

[Gordongekko909]

Wow, she came here not knowing a word of English, successfully assimilated, and now has a high-paying job as a defense contractor.

The May Day protestors could learn a thing or two from her.

[Skylab]

Wonderful story.

[MeanWestTexan]

That, and gratitude for the soldiers who put thier lives on the line that she might live free.

[F-117A]

"I never forget the American and Vietnamese soldiers who kept me safe."

[Always Right]

That is quite a remarkable lady. It is always great to hear stories of people who appreciate what was done for them and takes full advantage of the opportunity they are given. My wife escaped from Vietnam when she was 13 and became quite successful too.

[theDentist]

Mmmmmm. Thermobaric bombssssss... arggggggggghhhh!

[CondorFlight]

"I never forget the American and Vietnamese soldiers who kept me safe."

"The noble sacrifice of allied soldiers will never be forgotten."

(Sign once posted on the approach to Tan San Nhut airbase,
in English where the US personnel could see it.)

[Always Right]

If we had those bunker buster bombs during the Vietnam war, we probably would have won. It was the Viet Cong's tunnel system that made finding them and killing them nearly impossible.

[robowombat]

Here is an official description of the item:

BLU-118/B - Thermobaric Warhead
Description
The Bomb Live Unit (BLU)-118/B is a penetrating warhead filled with an advanced thermobaric1 explosive that when detonated generates higher sustained blast pressures in confined spaces such as tunnels and underground facilities. The U.S. Air Force fielded 10 of these new warheads compatible with the current Guided Bomb Unit (GBU)-15, GBU-24, and Air-launched Surface-attack Guided Missile (AGM)-130 weapon systems for employment by U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.

Features
The BLU-118/B uses the same penetrator body as the standard BLU-109 weapon. The significant difference is the replacement of the high explosive fill with a new thermobaric explosive that provides increased lethality in confined spaces. The new warhead uses a Fuze Munition Unit (FMU)-143J/B to initiate the explosive. The FMU-143 fuze has been modified with a new booster and a 120-millisecond delay. All weapon guidance systems and employment options currently used with the BLU-109 warhead are compatible with the new BLU-118/B warhead.

Background
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is conducting a three-year Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration for a thermobaric weapon system to defeat hardened underground targets. The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks motivated changes in program priorities. On Oct. 11, 2001, DTRA organized a quick-response team that included Navy, Air Force, Department of Energy and industry experts to identify, test, integrate and field a rapid solution that would enhance weapons options in countering hardened underground targets.

The explosive experts at the Naval Surface Weapons Center, Indian Head, Md., responded with a developmental explosive that clearly provided enhanced blast effects. The Air Force Precision Strike Program Office at Eglin AFB, Fla., led the team performing the weapon system integration, safety and flight clearances, and produced a modified fuzing system for the new warhead. The Indian Head facility conducted static testing of the fuze to demonstrate reliable initiation of the new explosive. Both static and flight tests were then conducted at full-scale tunnel facilities at the Department of Energy's Nevada Test Site.

The fast-paced program culminated on Dec.14, 2001, with a successful flight test of the GBU-24 laser-guided weapon using the BLU-118B warhead launched by an F-15E. When compared to the standard BLU-109 explosive, results showed the new thermobaric weapon generated a significant improvement in overpressure and pressure-impulse in the tunnel complex.

The Air Force completed verification and validation of the technical data and operational flight clearances needed to deploy the BLU-118B warhead. Ten warheads were immediately made available to the U.S. Air Force for deployment.

General Characteristics
Length: 98.5 inches
Diameter: 14.5 inches
Total Weight: Approximately 1,975 pounds
Explosive Weight: Approximately 560 pounds

1 Termed "thermobaric," the new explosive belongs to a class of fuel-rich compositions that release energy over a longer period of time than standard explosives, thereby creating a long-duration pressure pulse when detonated in confined spaces.

August 2005

[james500]

Sounds like a great American. Thanks for choosing this country.

[milwguy]

Bet Osama and his macho, women hating Taliban buddies don't know a mere woman is responsible for wiping out so many of their associates. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, or in this case a woman rocket scientist

[GladesGuru]

Most of the May Day protestors occupy the other end of the IQ bell curve. To use a somewhat related, but different descriptive analogy, Anh Duong can be said to occupy the deep end of the gene pool, the protestors the shallow end.

[Gordongekko909]

Totally. What we have here is a model American. Came here with nothing but the shirt on her back, and pulled herself up by her bootstraps. If only certain native-born Americans would kick as much rear as her.

[Centurion2000]

Anh Duong

Not far to change this to Angel of Death .... for terrorists.

[El Gato]

If we had those bunker buster bombs during the Vietnam war, we probably would have won. It was the Viet Cong's tunnel system that made finding them and killing them nearly impossible.

Wouldn't have mattered. We beat them militarily, tunnels and all. They beat us on SeeBS, NBC, and ABC, and in the halls of Congress, particularly the Democratic cloakrooms. Their most effective weapons were Walter Cronkite, John Kerrey, Jane Fonda, and other fellow travelers.