A small primary charge bursts the container, aerosolizing the fuel (liquid or solid particles) into a massive cloud that mixes with the surrounding air.
FAEs typically operate through a "two-stage" detonation process: fuel-air explosive
Fuel-air explosives (FAE), commonly known as or "vacuum bombs," are specialized munitions that use atmospheric oxygen to create a high-temperature, long-duration explosion. Unlike conventional explosives that carry their own oxidizer, FAEs consist almost entirely of fuel, allowing them to release up to 400% more energy than an equivalent weight of TNT. Mechanism of Action A small primary charge bursts the container, aerosolizing
Once the cloud reaches an optimal concentration—often between 186–275 g/m³ for common fuels—a second charge detonates the mixture. commonly known as or "vacuum bombs