Posted on 09/11/2007 5:59:17 PM PDT by Stoat
Russia has exploded the world's biggest non-nuclear bomb in a dramatic escalation of the new Cold War.
Nicknamed 'the father of all bombs', it was filmed being dropped from a strategic bomber and exploding in a massive fireball.
The film then showed the debris of apartment buildings and armoured vehicles at a testing range, as well as ground burned by a massive explosion.
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DESTRUCTION: The world's largest non-nuclear bomb tested by Russians
It didn't give the bomb's military name or say when it was tested.
Yuri Balyko, head of the Russian defence ministry's institute in charge of weapons design, said yesterday: "We have got a relatively cheap ordnance with a high strike power."
The test comes as Russia spends massively increased oil revenue on rebuilding its military might.
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It has been nicknamed the "dad of all bombs" and is four times more powerful than the U.S. "mother of all bombs."
The device is said to be four times more powerful than America's Massive Ordnance Air Blast, nicknamed the Mother Of All Bombs.
It would target more specific areas than nuclear bombs, and is an immediate threat to problem areas such as Chechnya.
Last night a source close to the US National Security Council said it was a "matter of concern" that Moscow would develop such a huge weapon at a time when there was no obvious need.
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A computer image of a new ordnance from Russian tv which is claimed by the Russian military the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb
He added that the US would ask for an explanation. He said there was "no chance" that America would become involved in a new arms race with the Russians and that the US had no use for bombs larger than the ones already in its arsenal.
While US intelligence was aware that Moscow was working on a new thermobaric device, it did not know that a test was imminent.
The latest raising of tension by Russia comes after president Vladimir Putin revived the Cold War era practice of flying bombers on long-range patrols.
Last week Royal Air Force fighter jets were scrambled to intercept eight Russian military planes flying in airspace patrolled by Nato.
The incident was the latest this summer in which British fighters have been used to warn off long-range Russian reconnaissance aircraft.
The so-called Mother of all Bombs is the biggest weapon in America's arsenal, capable of detonating 21,000lb of explosives above the ground.
The huge bomb, dropped from a slowmoving C130 Hercules aircraft and guided to its target by the satellite-linked global positioning system, can create temperatures of up to 1,000f (538c).
It is designed to obliterate chemical or biological agents concealed in bunkers.
The US is believed to have 15 in its arsenal but none is believed to have been used against an enemy.
(hopefully I don't need to add a 'sarcasm' tag to that)
“That’s MISTER Boom to you...”
I don’t think so, Russia. We use more than that in penetrators.
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (30000lb bomb)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1808917/posts
What’s its delivery system?
Chest-beating. Typical Russkies.
You just gotta' presume they know something about the common Islamofascist enemy ~ they've been fighting these guys a long time.
My bad. Our penetrator contains less poundage in explosive than its total weight. ...don’t know what it would equal in TNT weight, though.
I see so many threats to Russia today. Talk about a leadership crisis based on paranoia...
From the first graphic in the article:
"Dropped by parachute from Tu-160 'Blackjack' bomber"
Sounds like the Dems :-)
Have they EVER invented anything? I mean, other than the oxcart?
Thank you very much!
You'd get the same results sending Helen Thomas to an all-you-can-eat chili cook-off...
Maybe the nice Russians could test one on Iranian Nuke Sites.
any time.
I think a fuel-air explosive would be limited to the surface to be effective. This seems to be most effective against cities and conventional ground troops.
A few days ago they claimed to have a new mineral that absorbed radiation.
Putin is taking Russia back to the fifties.
Well, according to the article they have exceeded ours by just a bit:
The device is said to be four times more powerful than America's Massive Ordnance Air Blast, nicknamed the Mother Of All Bombs.
Have they EVER invented anything? I mean, other than the oxcart?
Well, certain baked meat pies, profoundly depressing literature, alcoholism as an accepted national pastime and certain hot female tennis stars come to mind.......
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