Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Reality is that there is a very limited retreat of the vehicles, with the occupation forces providing cover undeer fire up to Salah al-Din Street
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Claims that the Israeli occupation has withdrawn from areas in the neighborhoods of al-Zaytoun, al-Tuffah, and al-Shujaiya are false
Hamas: The two delegations stressed that any negotiations must lead to the achievement of our people's goals and aspirations, foremost among which is ending the war and the complete withdrawal of enemy forces
Hamas: A delegation from the Hamas leadership, led by the head of the leadership council, Mohammad Darwish, met with an Islamic Jihad delegation, headed by its Secretary-General, Ziyad al-Nakhalah

Seeking ‘molecule gap’ closure with China, US eyes advanced explosives

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Wall Street Journal
  • 22 May 2023 12:29
4 Min Read

A report by the Wall Street Journal shows that US lawmakers and the Pentagon are pushing for increases in local sourcing of raw materials needed for energetics and the expansion of high-end explosives production.

  • x
  • An illustration shows a soldier launch the suicide drone, switchblade 600, retrieved from the website of its producer. (AeroVironment)
    An illustration shows a soldier launching the suicide drone, switchblade 600, retrieved from the website of its producer. (AeroVironment)

The US has installed new explosive material, CL-20, onto the Switchblade suicide drones it sent to Kiev, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

CL-20 was first introduced into US weaponry in the 1980s but has been minimally deployed since then. 

The material is 40% more powerful compared to previous formulas that aid the explosivity and range of shells.

Cyclonite, octogen, and TNT comprise the larger portion of explosive material used in the Pentagon's arsenal. All of these were developed during the 1940s or prior, the WSJ report stated. 

The report said that the conflict between Russia and NATO-backed Ukraine has "exposed myriad deficiencies in the US defense industrial base's ability to surge weapons production."

The Ukrainian crisis has sucked up the funds of Western countries that have provided billions in aid to Kiev in an attempt to extend the conflict.

Easily disrupted supply chains for computer chips, necessary for advanced missile production, have decreased manufacturing outputs during the period of the war while facilities have not been able to keep up with Ukrainian demand for 155mm artillery shells, WSJ underlined.

A previous report by UnHerd, which examined the recent Pentagon leaks, showed that Ukrainian troops are firing 7,700 shells every day, or about one shell every six seconds. This rate of fire has strained Western production facilities as the US military depends on one factory in Louisiana to manufacture black powder that enters into a various array of weapons and explosives.

The US military complex's supply chain is greatly dependent on China to source the raw materials and chemicals that go into explosives production. China's energetics research program has made it difficult for the US to meet the demands of the Ukrainian army. These circumstances led the Pentagon to expand its production of "high-end" explosives like CL-20.

For this shift to be successful, the US has begun to refurbish old factories and rebuild domestic supply chains, which entails boosting the local sourcing of raw materials. 

"The whole system is gummed up," said Bob Kavetsky, a Navy weapons scientist, who is the head of Energetics Technology Center.

The use of the improved explosives in the miniature Switchblade drones has allegedly increased the "destructive power and lethality" of the backpack-sized weapon made by AeroVironment. The addition of CL-20 has increased the effectiveness of the drone when deployed against tanks and armored vehicles.

Scaling-up production has been a difficult process for the US, as it only houses one large-scale domestic chemical producer, Northrop Grumman, which has prompted worries among lawmakers about the US' readiness to engage in a conflict with China. 

"Energetics are directly related to deterrence," US Representative Mike Gallagher said to WSJ.

Gallagher said he plans on pushing for expanded use of CL-20 as he believes the US "can make a quantum leap in terms of range and destructive power."

Moreover, an expected amendment to the 2024 US defense policy would see the incorporation of the explosive into three missiles or munitions systems of the Pentagon's choosing. 

The official said its deployment in Ukraine has pushed for wider use after its production was minimized due to higher costs in comparison to traditional formulas.

This new demand for higher-end explosives has seen domestic producers like Island Pyrochemical Industries, a New York state-based producer, enter the CL-20 market, as it seeks to develop an improved manufacturing process that would reduce the cost of CL-20 to that of Insensitive Munitions eXplosives (IMX).

"There’s not a light switch. Chemical plants don’t like to be turned off and on," said Brian Gathright, who until last year ran production facilities for BAE, which hosts the two largest energetics facilities for the US Army.

The Ukrainian war has uncovered deep problems within the West's production capabilities as Kiev continues to suck up billions worth of ammunition, armored vehicles, and fighter jets.

Read more: Only $6 billion remain of $48 billion US aid package to Kiev: Politico

  • IMX
  • Pentagon
  • CL-20
  • US
  • Switchblade
  • US Army
  • Ukraine
  • Artillery Shells

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS