Thursday, August 12, 2010

Army approves safer explosive to replace TNT

Army approves safer explosive to replace TNT: "The U.S. Army recently qualified a new explosive that has the same lethality as traditional TNT, but is far less likely to explode if dropped, shot at or hit by a roadside bomb during transport.

The new formula, called IMX-101 (Insensitive Munitions Explosive 101), is scheduled for delivery to deployed Army and Marine Corps units in the form of 1,200 M795 artillery projectiles as early as next year, as TNT supplies are eventually phased out.

Numerous tests by the Picatinny team have proven that IMX-101 is a safer alternative to TNT in the Army and Marine Corps' existing large-caliber projectiles, especially during transportation, storage and loading."