Solar Industries develops indigenous explosive 2.01x more lethal than TNT

In a major step towards self reliance in munitions, the Indian Navy has conducted certification tests for an indigenously developed explosive, manufactured by Solar Industries that aims to enhance the potency of weapons.

The explosives have been being indigenously developed by M/s Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Nagpur, which is a subsidiary of Solar Industries.

The formulation, named SEBEX 2 - manufactured by a unit of Solar Industries - is said to provide a more powerful blast effect than any currently available solid explosive. The new explosive is reported to be 2.01 times more powerful than a standard TNT (Trinitrotoluene) explosion. The impact of an explosive is measured in terms of TNT equivalence, and any explosive with a higher TNT equivalence has greater destructive power.

"Conventional Explosives, like DENTEX/TORPEX, which are used in conventional warheads, aerial bombs &many other ammunitions worldwide have TNT equivalence of 1.25-1.30", Solar Industries officials said.