Less-Lethal "Fireball" in Kooky Weapons Catalog

Just about every stun gun, laser dazzler, airfoil projectile, pain ray, smoke grenade, slippery foam, sonic blaster, or other supposedly "less-lethal" weapon bought by the U.S. government since 2001 is chronicled in this exhaustive report from the University of Bradford. Take this "fireball," that allegedly won't hurt targets all that bad:

*The National Institute of Justice has been funding the development of a new ‘flash-bang’ weapon to replace existing grenade-type devices in use for over thirty years, which combine bright light and painful sound levels to disorientate. The weapon, under development at Sandia National
Laboratories, releases a cloud of powdered fuel that is ignited to form a bright fireball, loud noise, and pressure wave in the same manner as a fuel-air explosive or thermobaric weapon. The developers are working on a fusing system that would enable it to detonate next to the victim at ranges of 15 to
100 metres and there are plans to incorporate a chemical irritant agent as well. [Check out David Hambling's write-up, from last August -- ed.]
*

At the point of detonation, the resulting flash-bang effects could be terrifying to an adversary. The target would be confronted with an exceptionally bright fireball at least two meters in width that would appear to totally envelop him. The acoustical report would probably create intense pain in the adversary’s ears. The shock wave of 2.5 to
3.0 psi would probably create more terror. And if the ballistic contains a chemical irritant, it would cause the adversary even greater disorientation and discomfort.
With sound levels of up to 170 db the device would present a serious danger of permanent hearing damage.