Concrete bomb
A concrete bomb is an aerial bomb which contains dense, inert material (typically concrete) instead of explosive. The target is destroyed using the kinetic energy of the falling bomb. Such weapons can only practically be deployed when configured as a laser-guided bomb or other form of smart bomb, as a direct hit on a small target is required to cause significant damage. They are typically used to destroy military vehicles and artillery pieces in urban areas, in order to minimise collateral damage and civilian casualties.[1]
Guided or unguided concrete bombs may also be used for training pilots and ground personnel, due to the advantages of cost (no explosives or fusing), ease of precise and accurate point of impact determination, minimised bombing range damage, and increased safety (once the bomb hits the ground, it is an inert lump of concrete). Concrete bombs are also used in testing and evaluation of aircraft and bombs.
Concrete bombs have been utilised by the United States during the Iraqi no-fly zones conflict, and by France during the 2011 military intervention in Libya.[2][3]
See also
References
- ^ STEVEN LEE MYERS (October 7, 1999). "U.S. Wields Defter Weapon Against Iraq: Concrete Bomb". New York Times Website. Retrieved 2009-07-19.
- ^ http://gawker.com/5797354/france-destroying-libya-but-not-too-much-with-concrete-bombs
- ^ https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/04/france-dropping-non-explosive-bombs-libya/350160/