Recently, dragon drones were in the news in the Russia-Ukraine war. Dragon drones essentially release a substance called thermite — a mixture of aluminium and iron oxide — developed a century ago to weld railroad tracks.
- Dragon drones are believed to have been first deployed in the Russia-Ukraine war around September.
Thermite
- Thermite, powdered mixture used in incendiary bombs, in the reduction of metals from their oxides, and as a source of heat in welding iron and steel and in foundry work.
- When ignited (usually with the help of an electrical fuse), thermite triggers a self-sustaining reaction that is quite difficult to extinguish.
- It can burn through almost anything, from clothes to trees to military-grade vehicles, and can even burn underwater.
- On humans, it causes severe, possibly fatal, burns and bone damage.
- Thermite was used in both world wars. During World War I, German zeppelins dropped thermite-laden bombs which were considered an innovation at the time.
- By World War II, thermite-laden high incendiary explosives became a part and parcel of both the Allies and Axis forces’ aerial bombing campaigns.
- In modern conflict, thermite is most often used by espionage agents, or special operations teams due to its ability to burn intensely but without a bang.
- The use of thermite in war is not prohibited under international law. However, the use of such incendiary weapons against civilian targets is barred under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons — Cold War-era guidance issued under the auspices of the United Nations.
