Thermobaric explosives

Thermobaric explosives are members of the class of highly energetic materials and the subclass of volumetric explosives, and appear to release additional combustion energy in addition to the detonation energy of conventional explosives. This combustion energy, when used in weapons and specialized demolitions, may provide energy of a different type than the detonation, and thus greater effects. The class of volumetric explosives also contain fuel-air explosives, which have both similarities to and differences from volumetrics.

In a military context, the greatest interest in thermobaric explosives is against confined spaces, such as bunkers and caves. The additional heat produced is also of potential value in destroying, rather than scattering, chemical and biological weapons.

The class is usually considered to have been introduced by Russia, although the Russian military and scientific literature often conflicts on terminology. Where the Russian military refers to thermobarics, their scientific literature speaks of low-density explosives or metallized volumetric explosives. Western terminology includes "enhanced blast" or "fuel-rich". "Fuel-rich" must not be confused with fuel-air explosives, which also draw oxidizer from the environment, but have different pressure and thermal characteristics.

Weaponization

One U.S. thermobaric warhead is the BLU-118, which has been mated to various guidance kits, such as the GBU-15/AGM-130 weapons with electro-optical guidance, PAVEWAY laser guidance, and Joint Direct Attack Munition.