|
Fortifications, unless hermetically sealed offer little protection as the vapour from the cloud flows into cavities. If used in a confined space such as inside a building the blast is amplified. The weapon is effective vs. people , vehicles , equipment , fortifications and minefields making it very versatile. Thermobaric weapons have been used by the Russians since the 1960's and were combat tested during the Russians campaign in Afghanistan in the 1980's and have been used during the modern Russian campaigns in Chechnya during the late 1990s and early 21st century. The apart from weapons delivered by air the Russians developed the 'Buratino' a 30 barrel 220mm MLRS based on a T-72 Chassis which was first used in the 1980s in Afghanistan with a range of 3.5-5km and a minimum range of 400 meters. The Russians also use the man portable RPO -(A) Bumblebee system which is a shoulder fired single shot rocket(flame thrower) with a range of 1,000 meters, the RPO-(A) is the thermobaric weapon, while the RPO-(Z) and RPO-(D) fire incendiary and smoke rounds respectively. Thermobaric weapons although very effective are not without their critics, the use of them against Chechen rebels by Russians has lead to accusations of indiscrimate use and civilian deaths especially during urban combat. The horrific nature of such weapons has also caused some concern that they maybe classed as an 'inhumane weapon' which would mean their use being condemned by the United Nations.