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First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
Turkey unveils Gazap: Is this the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever built?
Turkey has unveiled Gazap, its most powerful non-nuclear bomb, at the IDEF 2025 defence fair in Istanbul. Weighing 970 kilogrammes, the bomb disperses over 10 fragments per metre, creating a devastating blast radius. Compatible with F-16s and F-4s, Gazap showcases Turkey's defence ambitions read more Aircraft bomb GAZAP was unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 held in Istanbul from July 22-27. Image/X Turkey has revealed its most powerful non-nuclear aircraft bomb to date, the Gazap, at the 17th International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. The bomb, whose name translates to Wrath in Turkish, weighs 970 kilogrammes (2,000 pounds) and represents one of the most significant leaps in Ankara's weapons technology. The unveiling took place at an event organised by KFA Fairs with backing from Turkey's Defence Industries Secretariat and the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This six-day fair, which has become one of the world's leading defence exhibitions, was spread across multiple venues — including the Istanbul Fair Center, Ataturk Airport, WOW Hotel, and Atakoy Marina. Turkey's National Defence Ministry's research and development (R&D) centre spearheaded the Gazap project. According to TRT Global and Anadolu Agency reports, Gazap is now fully certified and ready for use, following extensive design, testing and qualification processes. What makes Gazap so deadly? At its core, Gazap is a fragmentation bomb that redefines the destructive potential of conventional weapons. It disperses an extraordinary 10.16 fragment explosions per metre (3.2 feet) — far exceeding the old standard of one explosion every three metres (9.8 feet). This fragmentation density means the bomb can cover an extensive kill zone with controlled particle dispersion. According to Nilufer Kuzulu, who headed the research team behind Gazap, 'Unlike its conventional counterparts, it features a fragment-based structure with 10,000 particles. These fragments disperse within a one-kilometre radius upon detonation.' Kuzulu explained the scale of the advancement, 'Traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square metre, while Gazap disperses 10.16 fragments per square metre. This makes it three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs.' The approach taken is also unique. Rather than breaking apart randomly, Gazap's structure ensures precision fragmentation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This design mimics the effect of a defensive grenade, breaking apart into controlled fragments instead of random steel pieces,' Kuzulu added. Blast tests show massive impact Video footage from military trials illustrates the bomb's terrifying potential. Dropped from a bomber during testing, Gazap detonates with a massive flash, sending visible shockwaves across the landscape. Moments later, a dense mushroom of smoke and debris blankets an area spanning roughly 160 metres across. JUST IN: 🇹🇷 Turkey unveils 'GAZAP', its most powerful non-nuclear bomb. — BRICS News (@BRICSinfo) July 27, 2025 Officials described the effect as one of the most powerful ever seen from a non-nuclear weapon. Gazap's thermobaric properties — using fuel-air mixtures to generate extreme overpressure and heat — mean its detonation can reach up to 3,000 degrees celsius, hot enough to melt through steel and concrete. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If such heat comes into contact with human flesh, it is capable of burning all the way to the bone, highlighting why thermobaric weapons are regarded as some of the deadliest conventional arms ever created. Compatible with multiple aircraft The bomb is designed to be dropped from F-16 fighter jets and is also compatible with older F-4 Phantom aircraft — two of the mainstay platforms in the Turkish Air Force. Defence officials have indicated that future modifications could allow Gazap to be deployed from drones, expanding its operational versatility. One official reportedly said, 'The R&D center has modified the explosive and filler design. Qualification and certification processes are complete and ready for use.' Not alone: NEB-2 Ghost bunker-buster also revealed Gazap wasn't the only headline-grabber at IDEF 2025. Turkey also showcased the NEB-2 Ghost (Hayalet), another 970-kilogramme bomb, this time designed for deep penetration strikes. Officials touted NEB-2 as the 'best bunker-buster in the field.' Its ability to penetrate fortifications is remarkable — far exceeding the performance of foreign-made equivalents. An official explained: 'Normally, in nuclear power plants, US-made missiles penetrate 2.4 metres (7.8 feet) of C35 (standard concrete). NEB-2 penetrates 7 metres of C50 (three times stronger concrete than in nuclear power plants).' The NEB-2 underwent dramatic field testing. Dropped on an island, it bored 90 metres (295 feet) into the ground, unleashing enough energy to trigger landslides, gas leaks, and rock destruction across a 160-metre-wide area. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What makes NEB-2 even more formidable is its delayed explosion mechanism. Typically, such bombs detonate within 25 milliseconds, but for NEB-2, engineers extended the delay to 240 milliseconds, allowing the bomb to burrow deeper before exploding. 'The explosion, which normally takes 25 ms (milliseconds), was timed to 240 ms, making it more destructive,' an official said. A weapon just short of nuclear capability The Gazap bomb is now considered one of the world's most powerful conventional weapons — only a step below nuclear arms in destructive potential. Its thermobaric nature makes it especially lethal, producing immense overpressure that crushes structures and vaporises everything in its blast radius. Thermobaric bombs have a dark history, first being conceptualised by the Nazis during World War II, later refined and used by the US in Vietnam, and, more recently, deployed by Russia in Ukraine, reported The Irish Sun. While there is controversy surrounding their humanitarian impact, international law does not explicitly ban the use of thermobaric weapons on enemy positions — provided they are not directed at civilians. The development of Gazap and NEB-2 reflects Turkey's broader effort to establish itself as a leader in advanced weapons manufacturing. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD By investing heavily in domestic R&D, Ankara has been working to reduce reliance on foreign defence suppliers. With inputs from agencies
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Anil Mistry: From poaching to protecting
It was a quiet day in the late 90s. A young man born in a poacher's family was in the middle of a hunt in the dense forests of the Sundarbans. They had managed to shoot a doe, but it was a bit later that they realised a fawn was hiding behind and was left an orphan because of their action. The man, deeply moved by this scene, was unable to let go of the guilt and decided to turn himself in to the officials. This is the story of Anil Mistry, the poacher turned conservationist of the Sundarbans. Born on Bali Island on the Indian side of the Sundarbans, Anil Krishna Mistry is now a dedicated advocate for mangrove conservation and wildlife protection. He founded the Bali Nature and Wildlife Conservation Society (BNWCS) and works primarily towards diminishing human-wildlife conflict. As a former poacher and native of the area, he often emphasises how well he and his fellow ex-poachers know the nooks and crannies of the Sundarbans better than anybody. Just as he turned a new leaf, Mistry inspired multiple other poachers to mend their ways and help in conserving the nature around them rather than destroying it. The Sundarbans, home to the iconic Royal Bengal tiger, have always had issues related to human-wildlife interactions that cause tension. Anil has participated in over 70 tiger capture and release operations, and his organisation has helped ensure several such dangerous scenarios have been handled smoothly. Mistry also works towards ensuring alternative livelihoods, such as pond farming, poultry, small-scale agriculture, embroidery, and veterinary services, to reduce dependency on forest extractivism. These efforts have enabled his village to achieve financial stability without harming the forest. It was while working with the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI), led by founder Belinda Wright, that he picked up the mission of protecting mangroves and wildlife through community-centred initiatives. From taking lives in the jungle to giving tigers a chance, Anil Krishna Mistry's journey provides an inspiring tale of ecological resilience and redemption. He has contributed to the preservation of one of India's most delicate ecosystems by empowering the community and ensuring compassion-driven conservation. His life serves as a timeless reminder that practicing respect for the delicate balance between people and nature are the first steps towards change.
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Bangladesh sets up probe panel to investigate Dhaka school jet crash, report in 4 weeks
The Bangladesh government has formed a nine-member commission to investigate last week's crash of its Air Force training jet into a school here that killed 34 people, mostly students, according to a media report. Firefighters and army members work next to the wreckage of an air force training aircraft after it crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh(REUTERS) The F-7 BGI aircraft, a training fighter jet manufactured in China, experienced a "mechanical fault" moments after takeoff and crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College in Dhaka's Uttara area on last Monday. The probe commission headed by former secretary AKM Zafar Ullah Khan has been asked to submit its report within four weeks, The Daily Star newspaper cited a Cabinet Division gazette issued on Sunday. The other members include a retired air vice marshal, three additional secretaries from three ministries, the Dhaka divisional commissioner, an urban planner, and a professor of the mechanical engineering department of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. The probe commission will examine the cause of the tragic crash, assess damage and casualties, and determine the responsibilities, the report said. It will assess the loss of lives and injuries suffered by students, teachers, and others, and determine the extent of all damages. Additionally, it will review the construction of Milestone School and College, as well as other structures near the airport, assess the legal and administrative aspects concerning the location and safety of the flying zone, and make recommendations to prevent such accidents in the future. It will also make suggestions on the operation of training aircraft, the construction of buildings in flying zones, and emergency response protocols during catastrophic events. The Bangladesh Air Force has already formed a high-level investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident. The crash was one of the deadliest in Bangladesh's history. In the last such aviation tragedy in 1984, a total of 49 people were killed when a passenger jet crashed as it attempted to land during a severe rainstorm at the Dhaka airport.
