Prototypes of unconventional munitions designed to destroy stores of chemical and biological weapons could see their first use in Iraq, analysts believe.
UN weapon inspectors have not uncovered any chemical and biological weapons (CBWs), and fierce international debate continues over the necessity of military action to ensure Iraq has disarmed.
But Iraq has failed to account for large quantities of CBWs and if these were discovered during a conflict, their rapid destruction would be a very high priority. The US military is developing several variants of precision-guided 鈥渁gent defeat weapons鈥� (ADWs) and some are close to entering service, says Clifford Beale, editor-in-chief at Jane鈥檚 Defence Weekly.
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鈥淢uch of this work is classified, but it would seem reasonable to assume that an ADW capability would be available,鈥� he told 快猫短视频. 鈥淎 good deal of work in this area has already been done.鈥�
Another novel weapon that is likely to be in the US arsenal is the High Power Microwave (HPM) device reported on by 快猫短视频 in August 2002. This destroys electronic equipment in command, control and communications targets by unleashing an intense electromagnetic burst.
Incendiary device
Destroying CBWs without dispersing their deadly contents is a difficult task. Using conventional explosives is not an option 鈥� their detonation generates a shockwave of rapidly gases that would disperse the deadly agents far and wide. C4 high explosive, for example, creates a velocity of detonation of about 8000 metres per second.
Instead, ADW鈥檚 uses incendiary chemical 鈥榝ills鈥� that produce intense and long-lasting fires, rather than exploding. Some designs also belch out a cocktail of bleaching chemicals to further reduce the threat.
One such ADW is being developed by the US Naval Surface Warfare Center, in Indian Head, Maryland, along with Lockheed Martin, the USAF and others. First, it uses existing laser- or satellite-guided bombs such as the BLU-116 or BLU-109, to penetrate an underground bunker.
It then adopts a slash-and-burn approach, firing out copper plates at high velocity to puncture the chemical and biological tanks and, finally, igniting a specially-developed, incendiary fill is ignited. This produces extreme temperatures and disinfecting chlorine gas. Another ADW is the HTI-J-1000, which burns titanium boron lithium perchlorate, giving off both chlorine and fluorine.
Beale adds: 鈥淚t鈥檚 also known that some of the ADW research has been into man-deployable, rather than air-dropped weapons.鈥� These could be used by special forces soldiers on the ground, or they could simply seal the bunkers until after the conflict.
鈥淔rom day one, the highest priority will be given to securing any facilities containing chemical or biological agents,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he last thing anyone needs is for these compounds to get into the hands of terrorists.鈥�