On 11 September 2007, Russia tested an aviation explosive device of the variety known as a thermo-baric device. The non-nuclear conventional bomb, the military name of which has not been disclosed as yet, was tested at an undisclosed location. Hitherto, the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb was the American Massive Ordinance Air Blast Bomb nicknamed the 'Mother of All Bombs'.

The Russian bomb nicknamed the 'Father of All Bombs' is not the result of an invention - bombs of this variety have been in use for the past forty years, first invented and utilized by the Americans in Vietnam. Since then, the bomb has also been used in Afghanistan by the Russian military, in Chechnya and against the Taliban and al Qaida by the US in its War on Terror. It is generally used against trenches and bunkers, and is a free falling bomb, dropped by bomber aircraft. The aircraft used to test the Russian bomb was a supersonic bomber called the Tupolev Tu-160. The strategic bomber is the heaviest aircraft to have ever been built. This is natural, as the bomb itself is very heavy - containing 7.8 tons of high explosives.

The Russian bomb is equivalent to 44 tons of regular explosives with a blast radius of 990 feet or about 300m. The bomb explodes in a mushroom cloud, not unlike the nuclear bomb explosion. The destruction is caused through an ultrasonic shock wave created by air pressure and high temperature. The flammable liquid-fuelled air bomb is comparable in its destructiveness with the nuclear bomb. Images of the testing ground show a surface reduced to a lunar-like façade. However, Russian officials are emphasizing the "environmental-friendliness" of the bomb as they claim it doesn't cause ecological pollution since it has no radioactive fallout. Indeed, the Russian military's Deputy Chief of General Staff Alexander Rukshin proudly illustrates the destructive capabilities of the bomb - "All that is alive merely evaporates", he said. The Russians have also stated that the bomb is 4 times as powerful as its American predecessor.

The testing comes at a time when Russia's relations with the West are alarmingly strained. In the past year, there has been growing tension between Moscow and Washington, as President Putin has publicly denounced American power and distanced himself from the NATO. Earlier this year, Putin withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE), exposing souring relations between the NATO and Russia. Further, as the Kremlin laid claim to a portion of the territory around the North Pole, schisms have only grown deeper.

In August, Sino-Soviet war games were carried out and the Soviet practice of sending strategic nuclear bombers out on long-range flights in the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans was also resumed. As Blackjacks and Tu-95 Bears draw attention to a visibly more assertive military policy, new regional alliances with Central Asian states are also being forged. Rocketing oil prices have propelled a resurgent Russia - energy rich and militarily uninhibited. The possible consequence of this testing is the questioning of Russia's commitment to post Cold War treaties. Although the testing doesn't violate any international arguments, both Russia and the US could very well be renewing an arms race involving both conventional and nuclear arms technologies.

The two powers are already engaged in a counter measures game. The American missile defence system in central Europe has been viewed as an anti-Russian measure although Washington insists it is anti-Iranian. Russia has reacted strongly to the anti-missile system, blaming the US for attempting to disturb the European strategic balance. However, whilst issuing statements on Tuesday's testing, the Russian Defence Ministry insisted this is not the start of an arms race. Alexander Rukshin emphasized it was meant to enhance Russia's security - "It (the bomb) will allow us to safeguard our state's security and fight international terror in any circumstances and in any part of the world", he said.

It remains to be seen if the bomb sparks off a reaction by the US. Putin has in the recent past accused the US of using democracy drives to meddle in its domestic affairs. As Putin forwards Viktor Zubkov for the post of Russia's Prime Minister and readies himself to hand over power in 2008, the aggressive military policy of the Kremlin will be closely watched.