Turkey has introduced one of its most powerful weapons to date — a 970-kilogram thermobaric bomb that can blast through 90 meters of rock and soil.

A Powerful New Weapon Revealed by Turkey

The Turkish defense officials showed this massive bomb to the public during the 17th edition of the IDEF defense fair, a major military exhibition held in Istanbul.

This new weapon has two names — Gazap, meaning “Wrath,” and Hayalet, meaning “Ghost.” The Turkish Ministry of Defense designed and built the bomb. It uses a special kind of explosion called a thermobaric blast, known for its high heat and long-lasting pressure wave.

What makes this bomb different from regular ones is the way it explodes. Thermobaric bombs do not just blow up with a bang. They first release a cloud of fuel into the air. Then, they ignite that cloud, causing a second, much bigger explosion that uses up the oxygen around it. This creates an intense heat wave and pressure that spreads far and wide.

According to Turkish officials, the Hayalet bomb was tested on an island. It created a blast that affected the entire 160-meter width of the island, and even the areas behind it. The bomb was specially designed to explode slower than usual — 240 milliseconds instead of the normal 25 milliseconds — making the blast much more powerful and widespread.

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Designed for Deep Impact and Massive Damage

The 970kg Gazap/Hayalet bomb has been designed to go deep underground. Tests showed that it could destroy material 90 meters below the surface. That is about the height of a 30-story building. The weapon is made to destroy bunkers, tunnels, and other hidden structures that are normally hard to reach with regular bombs.

One of the key features of this bomb is that it can be dropped from a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet. This gives the Turkish Air Force the flexibility to use it from the skies during missions. The thermobaric weapon adds to the country’s growing list of advanced defense systems.

People also call thermobaric bombs vacuum bombs, aerosol bombs, or fuel-air explosives. Military forces have used them in different parts of the world to clear large areas of land or destroy strong defensive positions.

What makes thermobaric weapons especially dangerous is that they suck out the oxygen from the surrounding air. This makes it almost impossible for anyone nearby to survive. The powerful blast can cause serious injuries such as collapsed lungs, brain damage, and crushed internal organs, even for those not hit directly by the explosion.

Thermobaric bombs do not target with precision. Instead, they create wide-area destruction and help forces destroy strong underground structures or hidden shelters during combat.

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Global Context and Rise of Thermobaric Technology

Thermobaric weapons are not new, but Turkey’s new bomb ranks among the most powerful in the world. In 2007, Russia introduced what it called the “father of all bombs,” which it claimed was four times more powerful than the American version.

The American bomb is known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb and weighs about 9,800 kilograms. Though it is heavier than Turkey’s bomb, the Hayalet stands out for its deep-penetration ability and unique timed explosion.

In recent years, Russia has also started using thermobaric drones, which can carry small versions of these weapons and deliver them with high precision. These drones create a swirling vortex of heat and pressure that can go through walls and underground bunkers.

Turkey’s announcement shows that it has now entered this powerful weapons race. The new bomb adds a strong capability to its military forces and was one of the biggest highlights at the IDEF defense fair in Istanbul.

With this latest development, Turkey has shown it can design and build heavy-duty bombs that can compete with those from global powers. The Gazap/Hayalet bomb has caught international attention for its size, power, and deadly design.