Fuel-air weapons exploit the devastating effects of detonating volatile vapour in air. The explosion caused by igniting a fuel air mixture produces a fireball and a rapidly-expanding blast wave many times greater than that from conventional explosives.

The effects are similar to those from a small nuclear weapon, without the radiation.

The Americans used a form of fuel-air explosive bomb in Vietnam and dropped more than 200 during the Gulf War. The Russians are believed to have used them in Afghanistan and in Chechnya.