[Perdogg]

Are you taking about an FAE?

[doorgunner69]

Same principle, but sounds like this uses aluminum powder rather than liquid dispersal. The Military Channel had a good show about thermobaric explosives. Very violent blast effects.

[USNBandit]

FAE or fuel air explosive disperse a cloud of flammable liquid then have an initiator that triggers the cloud. The problem with FAE is that it is pretty hard to handle.

These weapons use powdered aluminum. The concept is the the same as a grain elevator explosion. A powdered substance with a lot of surface area to bond to available oxygen. The powdered aluminum burns fast and hot.

[Mr. K]

this is even BETTER than a FAE!!!

[NonValueAdded]

More like a MAE

[El Gato]

Are you taking about an FAE?

Similar, but not quite the same. Same basic principal, that is a dispersed explosion. Biggest difference is the fuel. Technically the thermobaric bomb is a subclass of FAE. But in general useage the FAE uses a vaporized liquid fuel. The thermobaric bomb uses a powdered metal, aluminum in the ones I know about. Simulates an even more powerful dust explosion. Thermobaric bomb/explosive is more useful inside structures. Caves in particular.

The bad news is that both FAE and thermobaric are simple enough that the folks in those caves can make simple versions too.