The Russians are using something similar to VX called VM-50(proper
designation?). Both VX and VM-50 are gelled forms of the nerve gas soman
and have a persistence ranging from monthes to years depending on
environmental conditions. This persistence is by design. VX is actually an
American invention, not Russian. It is a binary composed of two much less
toxic components. I am not sure to what you are referring when you say "one
order of magnitude better than VX". The Russians never really used VX.
They may have briefly, but they came up with their own brew. I understand
that their current chemical weapons array is similar in capability and
nature to ours. Research in new chemical weapons has become all but
eliminated for both the Russians and the US in the last few years. Even if
they did come up with something brand new very recently (my information is
from ~1990), it is unlikely it would ever see production. Heck, most
countries are trying to *decrease* their stockpiles of both chemical AND
nuclear weapons. The Russians are having real problems with the extensive
quantities and decrepit states of their stockpiles.
The standard non-persistant nerve gas is Sarin (designation GB). This gas
has a persistence of a few hours to a few days. This is also a binary, with
one of the components being isopropyl alcohol. Not quite as toxic as Soman
either.
Interestingly, the binary components for both Soman (VX form) and Sarin are
available from open sources. This information is not protected.
>> lighter than air. Unless it's confined in a building it becomes harmless
>> almost immediately.
>
>Apart from the other nasties, the effects of HCN are briefly treated in
>"A Higher Form of Killing" by Robert Harris and Jeremy Paxman, 1982.
Side note: You can give yourself temporary immunity (a few hours) to
cyanide by injecting solutions of sodium nitrite and sodium thiosulfate. I
think it would be amusing to see a person on deathrow apparently unaffected
by the gas chamber, much to the horror of everyone else.
-James Rogers
jamesr@best.com