MOSCOW, Sept. 11, 2007

Russia Builds "Dad Of All Bombs"

Russian Military Says It Successfully Tested World's Most Powerful Non-Nuclear Air-Delivered Bomb

  • In this image from video, the cloud rises after detonation of U.S. Air Force's Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, Tuesday, March 11, 2003, in Florida, after a test of the biggest bomb in the U.S. arsenal. On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, Russia said it built a bomb four times more powerful.

    In this image from video, the cloud rises after detonation of U.S. Air Force's Massive Ordnance Air Blast, or MOAB, Tuesday, March 11, 2003, in Florida, after a test of the biggest bomb in the U.S. arsenal. On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007, Russia said it built a bomb four times more powerful.  (Department of Defense)

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(CBS/AP)  Back in 2003, the U.S. proudly trotted out the so-called "mother of all bombs," a device described as the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in history.

Now, Russia claims it has built the "dad of all bombs," claiming that it is four times more powerful, has an epicenter temperature that is twice as high and covers double the area with its destructive force.

Russian state television says the military has successfully tested what it describes as the world's most powerful non-nuclear, air-delivered bomb.

Alexander Rukshin, a deputy chief of the Russian armed forces staff told the Channel One television station that the bomb is comparable to a nuclear weapon in efficiency and capability, but unlike a nuclear weapon, it doesn't hurt the environment. He described the mechanism of the bomb's destructive capabilities, saying that it is based on the detonation of a fine spray of combustible substance resulting in a shockwave and a high temperature explosion.

The Channel One television report showed the bomb dropped by parachute from a bomber and exploding in a massive fireball. It featured the debris of apartment buildings and armored vehicles at a test range, as well as the scorched ground from a massive blast.

"It will enable us to ensure the state's security and at the same time oppose international terrorism in any situation and in any region," Rukshin said.

With extra oil revenues, the Kremlin has been taking steps to rebuild its global clout and its military.


© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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by bptdude September 13, 2007 4:41 AM EDT

somebody already corrected me.
i used the term "chemical weapon" incorrectly.
it is a "fuel-air explosive device".
bathing a large area in a hazardous chemical is not "legal" in war. bathing a large area in hazardous chemical that explodes horribly, is "OK" to do and not a chemical weapons.

sorry, my bad.

anyway, the US used the MOAB when they had Bin Laden pinned down in the hills of Tora Bora. It basically was just to shake the ground for a large area, and didn''t collapse the caves as hoped. So, we made a loud noise and might have knocked his tea cup to the floor. These things are not good bunker busters, because you can''t push them deep into the ground first.

fine fine, I was very wrong on some things...

But, still, isn''t this the opposite of a smart bomb? Isn''t the daddy of all bombs really just a "developmentally challanged" bomb? It doesn''t really percisely do anything. Just a very big stick.



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by tbweb September 13, 2007 4:31 AM EDT
the U.S. builds the MOAB to take out "nuclear only" bunkers in bad behaving military states, without having to actually use nukes? and the Russian model will do what?

Posted by bptdude at 01:21 AM : Sep 13, 2007,,,

The Russian''s will have to mount this large over sized bomb on some slow moving aircraft and attempt to get near the United States with it. I say attempt, because fat chance of that! The U.S. Air Force won''t let any Russian aircraft carrying this large bomb get anywhere near the U.S., in fact it won''t get pass forward deployed Aircraft Carriers! The Russians built this for the Chechen''s! This bomb has Chechnya written all over it!
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by bptdude September 13, 2007 4:21 AM EDT

eco-bomb?
all the wierd religion crud is distracting the conversation. so, an air burt chemical weapon of such size to out-bomb the US? anybody want to bet they are using something the U.S. Air Force was probably banned from using?

did they mention what this thing was designed to be used against?

the U.S. builds the MOAB to take out "nuclear only" bunkers in bad behaving military states, without having to actually use nukes? and the Russian model will do what?

Reply to this comment
by tbweb September 13, 2007 4:19 AM EDT
Ezekiel 38-39 says it all when it comes to Russia, Iran, Syria, and several other countries surrounding Israel. What they are all doing is planning together for an all out attack on Israel and the Holy city of Jerusalem

Posted by singinrick at 12:36 AM : Sep 13, 2007,,,

The U.S. Department of Defense reports that Israel has over 60 active defense contracts with China and would probably arm China further if the U.S. did not object. It''s ironic reading your Post if true that Israel is contributing to it''s own destruction!
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by tbweb September 13, 2007 2:07 AM EDT
The size of this bomb is perfect! Now take the explosives out, reload it with the contents of that new memory forget pill, "Propranolol", and drop it on all the World''s "Haters", when the "Haters" snap out of it they won''t know what hit them, won''t remember a thing and the World can move on and live in Peace! Test a small dose on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad first, if he''s stops advocating wiping Israel off the map we know it''s working! There are many idea''s and applications for the memory forget pill, it needs to be developed, perfected and mass produced as soon as possible! That new memory forget pill is the real new Dad of all Bombs if it can be properly applied and used, not this thing!
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by rushlimpdrug September 13, 2007 12:59 AM EDT
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.
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by michellem99-2009 September 13, 2007 12:52 AM EDT
EARTH FRIENDLY..NOPE..It be nice if the world could be at peace..Is that asking too much..I hate war violance the gun the bomb and anything that leads to fighting...and that means them bullies...Let be good human beings...America...Please...
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by emma915 September 13, 2007 12:41 AM EDT
It''s about time! An environmentally SAFE bomb! What will they think of next?
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by zootallures2 September 12, 2007 1:39 AM EDT
My theological sumation is that in Heavan, Earth is known as the Comedy Channel.
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by zootallures2 September 12, 2007 1:38 AM EDT
My theological sumation is that in Heavan, Earth is known as the Comedy Channel.
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