Latest news with #GAZAP
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Turkey Unveils 'Most Powerful' Thermobaric Bomb
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Turkey has unveiled a new bomb described by state-linked media as the NATO country's "most powerful" air-launched conventional weapon, as Ankara positions itself as a major defense exporter. The thermobaric weapon, dubbed GAZAP, is "very destructive," Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency reported. Why It Matters Thermobaric weapons, sometimes referred to as vacuum bombs, fuel-air munitions or aerosol bombs, use oxygen mixed with fuel to create a high-temperature explosion. A second charge ignites after the initial explosion, making the weapon much more destructive than other non-nuclear bombs of a similar size. Russia has used thermobaric weapons in Ukraine, Western analysis confirmed early on in Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor. The Soviet Union also used thermobaric munitions during its war in Afghanistan, while the two-stage bombs have been in Western arsenals for decades. What To Know The GAZAP weighs in at 2,000lbs, and has passed through certification tests, Anadolu Agency reported, citing an unnamed official. The modified bomb is "ready for use," the official said. The weapon can be dropped from a U.S.-made F-16 fighter jet, according to domestic media. The Soloturk aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force flies an F-16 aircraft over Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic... The Soloturk aerobatic demonstration team of the Turkish Air Force flies an F-16 aircraft over Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, during celebrations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey in Ankara, on October 29, 2023. More ADEM ALTAN/AFP via Getty Images Turkey has a substantial military, with close to 300 combat-capable aircraft, according to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank. The vast majority of these aircraft are variants of the F-16. The Turkish government debuted the bomb, and a similar-size weapon named NEB-2 Ghost, at a major defense fair in Istanbul, where Ankara and London separately announced a step toward a deal that would furnish Turkey with Typhoon fighter jets. Turkey has been building up its defense industrial base for over 50 years, said Rebecca Lucas, a senior analyst with the European branch of the RAND think tank. "Recently, there has been a significant surge in Turkey's offerings on the global arms market, most famously UAVs [uncrewed aerial vehicles], but also armored vehicles, ships, munitions, and more," Lucas said. The Istanbul defense expo has traditionally offered up opportunities to publicize new military developments, Lucas told Newsweek. "It's not surprising that we have seen several debuts this weekend, including the GAZAP and NEB-2 Ghost bombs," added Lucas. Russia said back in 2007 it had tested what it called the "father of all bombs," an air-launched thermobaric weapon. Russian officials at the time said it was four times more powerful than the U.S. military's "mother of all bombs," which the U.S. used in Afghanistan in 2017 during President Donald Trump's first term in office. The American 21,600lb weapon is also known as the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb. What People Are Saying Rebecca Lucas, a senior analyst with the European branch of the RAND think tank, told Newsweek on Monday: "Turkey is not only advertising specific weapons and platforms to potential sellers, but also its overall rise as an influential regional player."
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Brit comedian facing 3 years in hellish Turkey prison for ‘shoplifting' after ‘accidentally' leaving Zara without paying
A BRIT comedian faces up to three years in a Turkish prison after she forgot to pay at a Zara store. Cerys Nelmes, from Bristol, claims she absentmindedly wandered out of the shop with clothes before realising she hadn't paid. Advertisement 5 Cerys Nelmes poses in undated photo Credit: Newsflash 5 Zara street shop in Istanbul Credit: Alamy 5 She was reportedly detained for shoplifting in Istanbul Credit: Newsflash She says she went back to the store in Istanbul to return the items and offered to pay. But despite this, she was detained and accused of shoplifting. Nelmes, who is a rising name in the Bristol comedy scene, took to social media to explain the incident. "On Tuesday I left a Zara store in Istanbul without paying for items," she said. Advertisement "I returned straight away and handed the items to staff. I was asked to pay and I said I would and the manager accepted this. "To cut a long story short I was then taken to a locked room where hours later after no communication from anyone I was taken away by police and held in a police station and was asked to sign things I couldn't read. "I was put in a prison cell for 24 hours with no food or toilet facilities. "When I asked for water, I was told they didn't understand me." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Nelmes was brought before a judge the next day, who permitted her release but barred her from leaving Turkey. She now faces a potential three-year prison sentence. Leaked footage shows terrifying power of new 'vacuum bomb' the GAZAP - one of the world's most destructive non-nuclear weapons The comedian is required to stay in the country while the incident is under investigation. She has appealed to the public for support in the wake of the incident, fearing she might lose her home back in Britain. Advertisement The ongoing proceedings are leading to her losing work and income. Nelmes has been unable to afford accommodation in Turkey given she had only come for a short holiday but now finds herself banned from leaving. However, she was offered a place to stay by locals. She added: "I am ok and have been taken in by a Turkish family who have given me a bed and food. Advertisement "I don't deserve all the kind words from people but I am very grateful." The British Embassy has confirmed it is offering support. It comes after a Read more on the Irish Sun Footage from abar in Thailand 's Chiang Mai city shows the holidaymaker being manhandled. Advertisement The 26-year-old solo traveller was reportedly charged an inflated 20,000 baht - around £460 - for drinks at the Diamond Karaoke Bar. 5 Picture shows Cerys Nelmes Instagram story Credit: Newsflash 5 The British Embassy has confirmed it is offering support Credit: Newsflash
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Brit comedian facing 3 years in hellish Turkey prison for ‘shoplifting' after ‘accidentally' leaving Zara without paying
She was detained and accused of shoplifting in Istanbul NO LAUGHING MATTER Brit comedian facing 3 years in hellish Turkey prison for 'shoplifting' after 'accidentally' leaving Zara without paying Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRIT comedian faces up to three years in a Turkish prison after she forgot to pay at a Zara store. Cerys Nelmes, from Bristol, claims she absentmindedly wandered out of the shop with clothes before realising she hadn't paid. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Cerys Nelmes poses in undated photo Credit: Newsflash 5 Zara street shop in Istanbul Credit: Alamy 5 She was reportedly detained for shoplifting in Istanbul Credit: Newsflash She says she went back to the store in Istanbul to return the items and offered to pay. But despite this, she was detained and accused of shoplifting. Nelmes, who is a rising name in the Bristol comedy scene, took to social media to explain the incident. "On Tuesday I left a Zara store in Istanbul without paying for items," she said. "I returned straight away and handed the items to staff. I was asked to pay and I said I would and the manager accepted this. "To cut a long story short I was then taken to a locked room where hours later after no communication from anyone I was taken away by police and held in a police station and was asked to sign things I couldn't read. "I was put in a prison cell for 24 hours with no food or toilet facilities. "When I asked for water, I was told they didn't understand me." Nelmes was brought before a judge the next day, who permitted her release but barred her from leaving Turkey. She now faces a potential three-year prison sentence. Leaked footage shows terrifying power of new 'vacuum bomb' the GAZAP - one of the world's most destructive non-nuclear weapons The comedian is required to stay in the country while the incident is under investigation. She has appealed to the public for support in the wake of the incident, fearing she might lose her home back in Britain. The ongoing proceedings are leading to her losing work and income. Nelmes has been unable to afford accommodation in Turkey given she had only come for a short holiday but now finds herself banned from leaving. However, she was offered a place to stay by locals. She added: "I am ok and have been taken in by a Turkish family who have given me a bed and food. "I don't deserve all the kind words from people but I am very grateful." The British Embassy has confirmed it is offering support. It comes after a British tourist was dragged out of a holiday bar and beaten by staff after allegedly refusing to pay a £460 drinks bill. Footage from abar in Thailand's Chiang Mai city shows the holidaymaker being manhandled. The 26-year-old solo traveller was reportedly charged an inflated 20,000 baht - around £460 - for drinks at the Diamond Karaoke Bar. 5 Picture shows Cerys Nelmes Instagram story Credit: Newsflash
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Leaked vid shows terrifying power of new one-tonne vacuum bomb ‘the GAZAP'…one of the world's most destructive non-nukes
A LEAKED video has emerged showing the catastrophic power of the new one-tonne vacuum bomb developed by Turkey. Touted as one of the world's most destructive non-nuclear bombs, the GAZAP can Advertisement 7 The moment Turkish military dropped the one-tonne vacuum bomb during a test Credit: X/nexta_tv 7 The bomb explodes and creates a huge flash, sending shockwaves that are visible to the naked eye Credit: X/nexta_tv 7 A massive cloud of smoke and dust follows the explosion Credit: X/nexta_tv 7 A GAZAP bomb on display during the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul Credit: IDEF 2025 And a glimpse of the devastation was caught in a short clip, which showed the mighty bomb's terrifying effects. The footage shows the GAZAP being dropped on the ground from a bomber during a military test. The bomb explodes and creates a huge flash, sending shockwaves that are visible to the naked eye. A massive cloud of smoke and dust follows the explosion, which covered an area of almost 160metres wide, according to Turkish military bosses. Advertisement The bomb is said to be one of the most powerful conventional weapons, just one step below nukes. The GAZAP, which means "Wrath" in Turkish, was unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. It is a 2,000-pound MK84 aircraft bomb which can be dropped from bombers as well as fighter jets, including F-4s and F-16s. Nilufer Kuzulu, who led the research to develop the bomb, said: "Unlike its conventional counterparts, it features a fragment-based structure with 10,000 particles. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Live Blog "These fragments disperse within a one-kilometre radius upon detonation." She noted that traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square meter, while GAZAP disperses 10.16 fragments per square meter. Moment cache of Putin's thermobaric 'vacuum bombs' is BLOWN UP in 3,000C blast "This makes it three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs," Kuzulu said. "This design mimics the effect of a defensive grenade, breaking apart into controlled fragments instead of random steel pieces," she added. Advertisement The GAZAP bomb can be deployed from Turkish F-16 and F-4 fighter jets and can be developed further to be deployed from drones . Thermobaric weapons were originally developed by the They can produce more heat and overpressure than conventional bombs by exploding a vapour in the blast zone. 7 The bomb is said to be one of the most powerful conventional weapons Credit: X/nexta_tv Advertisement 7 The bomb can be dropped from bombers as well as fighter jets, including F-4s and F-16s Credit: X/nexta_tv The deadly cloud produced after the explosion can reach temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Celsius - and can burn through steel and concrete. And if it comes into contact with human flesh, it can melt through right down to the bone. has a chilling past with thermobaric bombs and has reportedly dropped at least a few so far during its war with Ukraine . Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun While the use of the weapon can be extremely dangerous, it is not banned by the International arms control organisations to use against enemy positions in active warzones. Deploying such bombs is not a breach of international law as long as civilians aren't being targeted with them. Putin's wreakes havoc with vacuum bomb in Ukraine Throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been widely accused of using thermobaric weapons, commonly known as "vacuum bombs". Within days of the invasion, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, accused Russia of deploying a vacuum bomb. Around the same time, visual evidence of TOS-1A - a Soviet-era launcher - being moved into Ukraine began circulating on social media. During the brutal siege of Mariupol and the intense fighting in the Donbas region, numerous reports and videos surfaced allegedly showing the impact of thermobaric weapons. Putin was also accused of dropping a vacuum bomb in response to a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. Earlier this year, a cache of Russian thermobaric bombs was blown up in a huge explosion after an overnight Ukraine strike. Incredible footage shows a huge fireworks-like inferno reaching high up in the sky after the precision attack. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed the large pile of thermobaric munitions that was stored inside a warehouse in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk region. Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement: "On the night of February 28, the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed a thermobaric ammunition storage facility of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, in the Selidove district. "In addition, three more important facilities of the Russian invaders were damaged. In particular, the Ilsk Oil Refinery, which is involved in supplying the Russian occupation army." 7
The Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Sun
Leaked vid shows terrifying power of new one-tonne vacuum bomb ‘the GAZAP'…one of the world's most destructive non-nukes
A LEAKED video has emerged showing the catastrophic power of the new one-tonne vacuum bomb developed by Turkey. Touted as one of the world's most destructive non-nuclear bombs, the GAZAP can cause utter devastation when dropped on enemy targets. 7 7 7 7 And a glimpse of the devastation was caught in a short clip, which showed the mighty bomb's terrifying effects. The footage shows the GAZAP being dropped on the ground from a bomber during a military test. The bomb explodes and creates a huge flash, sending shockwaves that are visible to the naked eye. A massive cloud of smoke and dust follows the explosion, which covered an area of almost 160metres wide, according to Turkish military bosses. The bomb is said to be one of the most powerful conventional weapons, just one step below nukes. The GAZAP, which means "Wrath" in Turkish, was unveiled at the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. It is a 2,000-pound MK84 aircraft bomb which can be dropped from bombers as well as fighter jets, including F-4s and F-16s. Nilufer Kuzulu, who led the research to develop the bomb, said: "Unlike its conventional counterparts, it features a fragment-based structure with 10,000 particles. "These fragments disperse within a one-kilometre radius upon detonation." She noted that traditional bombs of this category typically disperse around three fragments per square meter, while GAZAP disperses 10.16 fragments per square meter. Moment cache of Putin's thermobaric 'vacuum bombs' is BLOWN UP in 3,000C blast "This makes it three times more powerful than standard MK-series bombs," Kuzulu said. "This design mimics the effect of a defensive grenade, breaking apart into controlled fragments instead of random steel pieces," she added. The GAZAP bomb can be deployed from Turkish F-16 and F-4 fighter jets and can be developed further to be deployed from drones. Thermobaric weapons were originally developed by the Nazis in World War Two but first used by the US in Vietnam. They can produce more heat and overpressure than conventional bombs by exploding a vapour in the blast zone. 7 7 The deadly cloud produced after the explosion can reach temperatures of up to 3,000 degrees Celsius - and can burn through steel and concrete. And if it comes into contact with human flesh, it can melt through right down to the bone. Russia has a chilling past with thermobaric bombs and has reportedly dropped at least a few so far during its war with Ukraine. While the use of the weapon can be extremely dangerous, it is not banned by the International arms control organisations to use against enemy positions in active warzones. Deploying such bombs is not a breach of international law as long as civilians aren't being targeted with them. Putin's wreakes havoc with vacuum bomb in Ukraine Throughout the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been widely accused of using thermobaric weapons, commonly known as "vacuum bombs". Within days of the invasion, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, accused Russia of deploying a vacuum bomb. Around the same time, visual evidence of TOS-1A - a Soviet-era launcher - being moved into Ukraine began circulating on social media. During the brutal siege of Mariupol and the intense fighting in the Donbas region, numerous reports and videos surfaced allegedly showing the impact of thermobaric weapons. Putin was also accused of dropping a vacuum bomb in response to a Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. Earlier this year, a cache of Russian thermobaric bombs was blown up in a huge explosion after an overnight Ukraine strike. Incredible footage shows a huge fireworks-like inferno reaching high up in the sky after the precision attack. Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed the large pile of thermobaric munitions that was stored inside a warehouse in the Russian-occupied part of Donetsk region. Ukraine's General Staff said in a statement: "On the night of February 28, the Defense Forces of Ukraine destroyed a thermobaric ammunition storage facility of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region, in the Selidove district. "In addition, three more important facilities of the Russian invaders were damaged. In particular, the Ilsk Oil Refinery, which is involved in supplying the Russian occupation army." 7
