IMX-101

IMX-101 is a high-performance insensitive high explosive composite mixture developed by BAE Systems and the United States Army to replace TNT in artillery shells.[1][2][3][4] IMX stands for "Insensitive Munitions eXplosives", which refers to the purpose of IMX-101: to provide explosive force equivalent to TNT without its sensitivity to shocks such as gunfire, explosions from improvised explosive devices, fire, and shrapnel. For example, it is believed that a training incident in Nevada which killed seven Marines would not have occurred with the new explosive. On March 23, 2013, the United States Army ordered $780 million worth of the explosive, with a production of millions of pounds annually, to be produced by BAE at Holston Army Ammunition Plant in Tennessee.[5] The new explosive will cost $8 per pound, compared to $6 per pound for TNT.[6] As of 2023, IMX-101 filled shells are being used in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[7]

Time Magazine called IMX-101 one of the "50 best inventions of 2010".[6]

  1. ^ "BAE IMX-101 Explosive Approved To Replace TNT In US Army Artillery". Archived from the original on 2010-08-07. Retrieved 2010-08-03.
  2. ^ DTIC Background and Introduction to IMX-101, -102 and -103 Archived 2010-08-15 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ The Application of New IM Explosive Candidates - DTIC Online Archived 2012-10-03 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "Army Approves Safer Explosive To Replace TNT". Archived from the original on 2010-08-20. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  5. ^ Allison Barrie (2013-03-26). "Bye bye, TNT: New generation of explosives for the Army". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2013-03-27. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  6. ^ a b Mark Thompson (2010-11-13). "Less Dangerous Explosives". Time Magazine. Archived from the original on 2013-05-25. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
  7. ^ Ismay, John; Keyssar, Natalie; French, Lyndon; Taylor, Marisa Schwartz; Lieberman, Rebecca (2023-02-02). "How to Forge Shells for Ukraine's Artillery". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-02-02.