PETER LA FRANCHI / BANGKOK
Researchers at China North Industries say work is under way on development of a 500kg (1,100lb) air-launched thermobaric bomb.
The programme is at an early stage, but follows the successful development of first-generation thermobaric warheads for by use by ground forces. China North research and development personnel at last week's Defense Asia 2003 exhibition in Bangkok said second-generation warheads are also under development for infantry-portable missiles.
The researchers indicated that the same team involved in developing the ground weapons was undertaking the bomb programme, a timeframe for which has not been released. China has not previously been publicly identified as either fielding or engaged in developing thermobaric weapons.
Air-launched thermobaric weapons acquired significant international attention in December 2001, when the USA announced it was deploying thermobaric-modified BLU-118/B weapons to Afghanistan to support operations against Taliban and al-Qaeda forces hiding in deep cave and bunker complexes. The first acknowledged US strike using a 900kg thermobaric air-launched weapon occurred near Kabul in March 2002.
In May 2003, US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld revealed that a thermobaric warhead had been developed for the Lockheed Martin/Boeing AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missile, and that this had been used operationally during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Russia used first-generation ground-launched thermobaric weapons in Chechnya in 1994-6.
Thermobaric weapons are similar in concept to fuel air explosives, operating by spreading a large cloud of flammable chemical or powder over a wide area before detonating this to create a massive overpressure and associated high temperatures. The key difference is that fuel air explosives are normally reserved for above-ground effects. A thermobaric weapon places the fuel air compound into a penetrator casing to reach deep underground or inside structures before detonation.
The China North stand at Defense Asia displayed pictures of infantry-portable thermobaric rockets. These have maximum ranges of 1,100m (3,600ft) and 800m, respectively.
Rick Fisher, a fellow at the US-based Center for Security Policy, says China's thermobaric weapons programme may have benefited from direct sales of Russian equipment. "That they are marketing this thing in Bangkok is proof positive the Chinese are selling it to other ne'r-do-wells," he says.
Source: Flight International
