BBC News Tornadoes to drop 'concrete bombs'
By Mark Nicholls
With the RAF at the Ali Al Salem airbase in northern Kuwait
Tornado jets are poised to use yet another different weapon in the war against Iraq ... concrete bombs.
The jets have already used high-tech weaponry such as the "bunker busting" cruise missile Storm Shadow, which cost �750,000 apiece and can pierce several feet of concrete.
The Tornado has a top speed of 1,452 mph
But now the crews operating over Iraq from the Ali Al Salem airbase in northern Kuwait are about to go to the opposite extreme and use "inert bombs".
These are basically blocks of concrete shaped as bombs and painted blue to identify them as non-explosive if they are discovered still intact after the war.
Great accuracy
But they will be laser-guided 1,000lb blocks of concrete, capable of destroying a tank or artillery piece, but without causing a devastating explosion that would put civilians at risk and shatter surrounding buildings.
Tornado Detachment commander, Group Captain Simon Dobb, said: "We have the option of using these inert bombs.
"They still have the guidance and steering methods of other high explosive weapons but the risk of causing civilian casualties is greatly reduced."
There is the impact, without a massive explosive effect.
Group Captain Simon Dobb
The weapons, dropped from height and with great accuracy, can destroy a tank without affecting surrounding buildings.
The weapon is on standby if Saddam Hussein moves his tanks and artillery pieces further into Baghdad, hiding them in areas of dense population.
It means the Tornados can still destroy them but leave civilian buildings intact and the population unscathed.
He said: "There is the impact, without a massive explosive effect.
"It's all about proportionality."
By Mark Nicholls
With the RAF at the Ali Al Salem airbase in northern Kuwait
Tornado jets are poised to use yet another different weapon in the war against Iraq ... concrete bombs.
The jets have already used high-tech weaponry such as the "bunker busting" cruise missile Storm Shadow, which cost �750,000 apiece and can pierce several feet of concrete.
The Tornado has a top speed of 1,452 mph
But now the crews operating over Iraq from the Ali Al Salem airbase in northern Kuwait are about to go to the opposite extreme and use "inert bombs".
These are basically blocks of concrete shaped as bombs and painted blue to identify them as non-explosive if they are discovered still intact after the war.
Great accuracy
But they will be laser-guided 1,000lb blocks of concrete, capable of destroying a tank or artillery piece, but without causing a devastating explosion that would put civilians at risk and shatter surrounding buildings.
Tornado Detachment commander, Group Captain Simon Dobb, said: "We have the option of using these inert bombs.
"They still have the guidance and steering methods of other high explosive weapons but the risk of causing civilian casualties is greatly reduced."
There is the impact, without a massive explosive effect.
Group Captain Simon Dobb
The weapons, dropped from height and with great accuracy, can destroy a tank without affecting surrounding buildings.
The weapon is on standby if Saddam Hussein moves his tanks and artillery pieces further into Baghdad, hiding them in areas of dense population.
It means the Tornados can still destroy them but leave civilian buildings intact and the population unscathed.
He said: "There is the impact, without a massive explosive effect.
"It's all about proportionality."
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