Britain's controversial weapons
Updated on 20 August 2007
As the MoD makes an order for a new type of weapon, Channel 4 News asks why they aren't more open about its characteristics.
As the campaign for hearts and minds falters and the civilian death toll mounts, our troops will get weapons similar to those the Soviets experimented with there.
The lethal blast creates a massive heat and pressure wave - shown in the manufacturer's video - flattening buildings, crushing victims to death.
The Russians used these sort of bombs - called thermobarics - to level Grozny. And because of memories of Grozny, the military is very sensitive about these devices. Today in army newspeak, they're called "enhanced blast devices".
British troops are fighting a modern version of old trench warfare in Afghanistan. Intense firefights with the Taliban, leaving, reports said this weekend, nearly half of some units needing medical treatment.
They need the new devices, they say, to get at militants hiding away inside bunkers.
The Ministry of Defence has told MPs it urgently wants old shoulder-launched weapons replaced with some that can carry enhanced blast devices.
'We're actually talking about a new generation of weapon about which very little has been publicly revealed.'Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch
One order's been placed for 2009, but another has been quietly made to be in service as soon as possible.
Channel 4 News has learnt the army also wants Britain's new Apache helicopters - at use for the first time in Afghanistan - to have their missiles equipped with another form of thermobaric device, called a metal augmented charge.
Sources in industry and people in the army tell me that an order is a high priority and is coming very soon. That might mean the end of this year or the beginning of next year. As far as the army's concerned it could not come soon enough.
The Ministry of Defence says it has yet to decide on the purchase.
Experts say conventional weapons often don't work in Afghanistan, as they were designed to defeat tank armour and pass through weak structures like mud huts where the Taliban hide.
This risks them detonating away from the target and causing civilian casualties.
These new devices activate when they pass through the first wall. They release a cloud of explosive material which, when detonated, causes a longer lasting wave of heat and pressure.
This explosion then levels the building, killing its occupants through an intense pressure wave that crushes them.
Its proponents argue it also limits accidental casualties in the surrounding area.
MoD statement
'The MoD is purchasing a small number of enhanced blast munitions for use on operations. These have been procured in full accordance with the UK's obligations under international humanitarian law.
'It is important to us that our forces can choose from a wide suite of weaponry so they can respond appropriately and proportionately to any threat.
'These weapons will be used proportionally under specific rules of engagement. Our forces go to every effort to ensure that we avoid civilian casualties.'
But as the civilian death toll rises - up to 86 people were killed in Afghanistan recently by a NATO airstrike - there are fears these new devices could also be used in error.
They need to explain it to parliament and get parliament's assent. But others are angry the Ministry of Defence has not been open about this highly controversial purchase.
When we first approached them in June, a spokesman said they were not buying enhanced blast devices, but were interested in them.
When they admitted to MPs they had already bought two batches, they then told us these were not thermobaric weapons. They withdrew that claim five hours later and refused to put anyone up for an interview.
Nobody's disputing that every effort's made to avoid civilian casualties. But some wonder why, if these devices are so uncontroversial and vital, the MoD isn't more open about what they are called and where they will be used.
