I love Russian women

[Gregory Pratt]

But I hate Russia

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070911/wl_nm/russia_bomb_dc

 

Russia has tested the world's most powerful vacuum bomb, which unleashes a destructive shockwave with the power of a nuclear blast, the military said on Tuesday, dubbing it the "father of all bombs."

 

The bomb is the latest in a series of new Russian weapons and policy moves as President Vladimir Putin tries to reassert Moscow's role on the international stage.

 

"Test results of the new airborne weapon have shown that its efficiency and power is commensurate with a nuclear weapon," Alexander Rukshin, Russian deputy armed forces chief of staff, told Russia's state ORT First Channel television. The same report was later shown on the state-sponsored Vesti channel.

 

"You will now see it in action, the bomb which has no match in the world is being tested at a military site."

 

It showed a Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bomber dropping the bomb over a testing ground. A large explosion followed.

 

Pictures showed what looked like a flattened multi-storey block of flats surrounded by scorched soil and boulders. "The soil looks like a lunar landscape," the report said.

 

"The defense ministry stresses this military invention does not contradict a single international treaty. Russia is not unleashing a new arms race."

 

Such devices generally detonate in two stages. First a small blast disperses a main load of explosive material into a cloud, which then either spontaneously ignites in air or is set off by a second charge.

 

This explosion generates a pressure wave that reaches much further than that from a conventional explosive. The consumption of gases in the blast also generates a partial vacuum that can compound damage and injuries caused by the explosion itself.

 

"The main destruction is inflicted by an ultrasonic shockwave and an incredibly high temperature," the reports said. "All that is alive merely evaporates."

 

Rukshin said: "At the same time, I want to stress that the action of this weapon does not contaminate the environment, in contrast to a nuclear one."

 

"FATHER OF ALL BOMBS"

 

The Tu-160 supersonic bomber that dropped the bomb, widely known under its NATO nickname of "Blackjack," is the heaviest combat aircraft ever built.

 

Putin, who has overseen the roll-out of new tactical and anti-aircraft missiles and combat aircraft, has ordered "Blackjacks" and the Tu-95 "Bear" bombers to patrol around the world.

 

The report said the new bomb was much stronger than the U.S.-built Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb -- MOAB, also known under its name "Mother of All Bombs." "So, Russian designers called the new weapon 'Father of All Bombs'," it said.

 

Showing the orange-painted U.S. prototype, the report said the Russian bomb was four times more powerful -- 44 metric tons of TNT equivalent -- and the temperature at the epicenter of its blast was two times higher.

 

In 1999 Russian generals threatened to use vacuum bombs to wipe out rebels from the mountains during the "anti-terrorist operation" in its restive Chechnya province.

 

New York-based Human Rights Watch then appealed to Putin to refrain from using fuel-air explosives. It remains unclear if weapons of this type were used during the Chechen war.

 

U.S. forces have used a "thermobaric" bomb, which works on similar principles, in their campaign against al Qaeda and Taliban forces in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan.

 

"It (the bomb) will allow us to safeguard our state's security and fight international terrorism in any circumstances and in any part of the world," Rukshin said.

[NorthSideSox72]

while we're discussing Russia... Putin dissolved the current government today, 3 months prior to an upcoming election. Likely will set the stage for the next in line.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

while we're discussing Russia... Putin dissolved the current government today, 3 months prior to an upcoming election. Likely will set the stage for the next in line.

 

Its going to be interesting to see who he "appoints".

[southsideirish71]

Its going to be interesting to see who he "appoints".

 

Victor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, is a relative unknown in Russian politics has been nominated for PM.

Edited September 12, 2007 by southsideirish71

[NorthSideSox72]

Victor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, is a relative unknown in Russian politics has been nominated for PM.

Right up Putin's alley. One thing Putin was trying to do (one of the positives in this case) was get some of the rampant rampant financial crimes in the business sector (tax evasion, corrupt practices, etc.) under control. He made sure that a couple of the energy giants got the hammer. Given the direction Russia needs to go with their business sector, and how important that is for that country, I'd say this is a solid-looking choice so far.

 

[southsider2k5]

Victor Zubkov, head of the federal financial monitoring service, is a relative unknown in Russian politics has been nominated for PM.

 

Interesting. Its seems he has been following Putin up the ladder for years, and is a former communist, who coincidently has never been able to win an election before. Sounds like more of the same.

[sox4lifeinPA]

but what I think is important to note:

 

"The tests have shown that the new air-delivered ordnance is comparable to a nuclear weapon in its efficiency and capability," said Col.-Gen. Alexander Rukshin, a deputy chief of the Russian military's General Staff, said in televised remarks.

 

Unlike a nuclear weapon, the bomb doesn't hurt the environment, he added.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

but what I think is important to note:

 

Ah yes, the first green bomb.

[Gregory Pratt]

Beyond the snark, that's actually a fair enough point. At least it just scorches the Earth, and not the air or the water beyond habitation.

[sox4lifeinPA]

Ah yes, the first green bomb.

 

Al Gore must be wetting himself.

[southsideirish71]

but what I think is important to note:

 

 

Well I dont know about that. Its a fuel air explosive, and the last time I checked the combustion of any fuel source pollutes by nature. Now granted, the area isnt roped off for the next 1000 years as everything glows in the dark. The locals aren't also getting hooves, and fangs and wings and other sorts of mutations from their new "DNA".

[sox4lifeinPA]

Beyond the snark, that's actually a fair enough point. At least it just scorches the Earth, and not the air or the water beyond habitation.

 

 

yeah, it's just like recycling....

[Gregory Pratt]

yeah, it's just like recycling....

 

He'll be here all day, folks!

[sox4lifeinPA]

He'll be here all day, folks!

 

actually, I'm leaving at 1pm. So I won't.

 

 

[Gregory Pratt]

badda bump

[southsider2k5]

Well I dont know about that. Its a fuel air explosive, and the last time I checked the combustion of any fuel source pollutes by nature. Now granted, the area isnt roped off for the next 1000 years as everything glows in the dark. The locals aren't also getting hooves, and fangs and wings and other sorts of mutations from their new "DNA".

 

I wonder if it is Carbon-Nuetral, or if Putin bought some offsets?