In a major step towards self-sufficiency in defence production, Economic Explosives Limited (EEL) -- a fully-owned branch of Solar Industries in Nagpur -- has created new explosives formulas. These new explosives produce a much stronger blast than the existing solid ones. This achievement is designed to make weapons and ammunition more effective and powerful, marking an important step forward for the Indian Navy and the other branches of the armed forces.

The Indian Navy recently completed successful certification tests for three of EEL's new explosive types:

1.      SEBEX-2: A powerful explosive with twice the strength of TNT, or TNT equivalence of 2.01

2.      SITBEX-1: A solid thermobaric polymer-bonded explosive

3.      SIMEX-4: A new type of insensitive explosive formulation

After a critical evaluation of this powerful composition was carried out and it proved to be successful, EEL was issued a compliance certificate on June 25 under the Defence Export Promotion Scheme by a Director-General of Naval Armament Inspection (DGNAI)-appointed Board of Officers. This marks a significant achievement in boosting the country’s defence capabilities.

This is another step towards achieving self-reliance in defence. The Indian Navy has successfully tested explosives being developed locally by EEL. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday (June 29), the Indian Navy said these new explosives from EEL aimed to make weapons and ammunition more powerful and efficient.

Power & Promise of SEBEX-2

In a major breakthrough, EEL has created SEBEX-2, a castable explosive made with high-melting explosive (HMX) -- a powerful and stable explosive material with a high melting point, which makes it suitable for use in various military applications as it can withstand high temperatures without degrading or detonating prematurely -- that has TNT equivalence of 2.01. The extraordinary power of SEBEX-2 is expected to greatly increase the effectiveness of warheads, aerial bombs, artillery shells and other munitions that rely on blast and fragmentation to damage targets.

'TNT (trinitrotoluene) equivalence' is a measure that quantifies the energy released in a blast, comparing it to that released by a certain amount of TNT. TNT equivalence of 2.01 means the energy released by the explosion is 2.01 times that of an equivalent mass of TNT. If an explosive has TNT equivalence of 2.01, it means that 1 kilogram of this explosive releases as much energy as 2.01 kilograms of TNT. This measure helps in understanding the relative power of different explosives by providing a common reference point. 

India currently uses a powerful conventional explosive in the BrahMos missile, which has a TNT equivalence of about 1.5. This means it is 1.5 times more powerful than TNT of the same amount. In comparison, most explosives used in warheads around the world have TNT equivalence of between 1.25 and 1.3.

Thermobaric Power of SITBEX-1

The EEL has created a thermobaric polymer-bonded explosive called SITBEX-1. This explosive produces a much stronger blast, higher fireball temperature and larger fireball diameter than traditional explosives. The company stated that this formulation is perfect for use in air bombs, missiles and other warhead systems designed to destroy tunnels, bunkers and other fortified structures.

A thermobaric explosive is a type of weapon that uses oxygen from the surrounding air to generate a high-temperature blast. It creates a powerful explosion and intense heat, making it highly effective against enclosed spaces, such as bunkers or buildings. This results in significant damage and increased lethality. A thermobaric polymer-bonded explosive uses a binding agent to create a powerful blast that relies on oxygen from the air, resulting in the intense heat it creates and causing widespread damage.

Insensitive Munitions of SIMEX 4

The Navy has certified a third explosive called SIMEX 4, which is an insensitive munition. Insensitive explosives are designed to be less likely to detonate accidentally due to impact, heat, or friction, making them safer to store, handle and transport compared to standard explosives. The new formulation is far less likely to accidentally ignite, making it ideal for applications where safety is crucial, such as torpedo warheads in the confined spaces of a submarine.

The author of this article is a Defence and Aerospace Analyst based in Bengaluru.