No-explosive bombs?

According to the Sunday Times:

The RAF has come up with a new weapon to crack Saddam Hussein’s defences: the concrete bomb.
The weapon, which is designed to cut collateral damage in built-up areas, looks the same as an ordinary bomb but is filled with 1,000lb of concrete instead of explosive.

British Harriers and Tornados are preparing to drop the weapons on military targets in Baghdad. Pilots will use laser and satellite devices to steer the bombs onto Iraqi positions.

The problem with conventional bombs is that they have such huge blast areas they cannot be used safely in street-to-street fighting for risk of killing civilians or allied troops.

It's quite something when guidance systems are so advanced that the explosive power of bombs becomes something to be reduced, and even eliminated.

UPDATE: O ye of little faith! The Sunday Times article appeared on the 4th, not the 1st -- and there are more references to concrete bombs here, here, and here.

Posted by David on April 7, 2003 11:09 AM