Britain's Thermobaric Secret

Six years ago I wrote about Britain's tentative steps towards thermobaric weapons. This type of warhead, which differs from normal explosives in producing a prolonged and extremely destructive blast wave, is highly controversial. Instead of actual thermobarics, the Ministry of Defence eventually stated that the new Anti-Structure Munitionwould not be thermobaric but merely an 'enhanced blast' weapon.

However, with troops on the ground in Afghanistan demanding a new weapon fast, the situation has changed and thermobarics have been quietly approved.

There are plenty of such weapons in the US arsenal already, ranging from the BLU-118'cave buster' to the 'hyperbaric' AGM-114NHellfire at the large end to the Marine's SMAW-NEbazooka and the XM1060 40mm grenade. All have been highly praised for their effectiveness.

However, there may be some legal challenge to weapons such as hand-held thermobaric devices which can easily demolish multi-storey buildings. TheLaw of Armed Conflictrests on the principles of "military necessity, unnecessary suffering, proportionality, and distinction (discrimination)". A weapon which does not just take out the sniper but also every non-combatant in the same apartment block may be seen as disproportionate or indiscriminate.

Hence, perhaps, British reticence. But Britain's Channel 4 Newshas found that new weapons have already been purchased by the Ministry Of Defence.

"When we first approached them in June, a spokesman said they were not buying enhanced blast devices, but were interested in them.

When they admitted to MPs they had already bought two batches, they then told us these were not thermobaric weapons. They withdrew that claim five hours later and refused to put anyone up for an interview.

Nobody's disputing that every effort's made to avoid civilian casualties. But some wonder why, if these devices are so uncontroversial and vital, the MoD isn't more open about what they are called and where they will be used."

Channel 4 discovered that in addition to shoulder-launched weapons (the ASM is based on the Dynamit-Nobel Matador, pictured), the British military are also ordering the thermobaric verion of the Hellfire for Apache helicopters.

The needs of war are likely to override any objections this time. Nobody wants our troops to have anything less than the best. But a government which refuses to discuss weapons not for reasons of security but because it is embarassed by them -- that's not a good sign.