Pentagon Running Out of U.S. Suppliers of Energetic Materials

I'm sure Tesla and others would be more than happy to step up. (Look what happened to petroleum in the US.)
 
This thread is about 'energetic materials' ie explosives. IMO rare earths are a separate issue, so would be better off in their own thread...
 
Related in a macro industry wide sense

www.heritage.org

The Defense Production Act: An Important National Security Tool, But It Requires Work

The Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 lies at a unique nexus between private industry and federal investment for the purposes of national security. Despite its demonstrable utility, modifications to the law’s implementation are necessary. The DPA should be more narrowly focused on national...
www.heritage.org www.heritage.org
 
www.reuters.com

Exclusive: U.S. Army will fund rare earths plant for weapons development

The U.S. Army plans to fund construction of rare earths processing facilities, part of an urgent push by Washington to secure domestic supply of the minerals used to make military weapons and electronics, according to a government document seen by Reuters.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com

www.reuters.com

Texas rare earths mine developers to build U.S. refinery

Developers of a Texas rare earths mine said on Monday they will build a pilot plant to refine the strategic minerals, the latest domestic processing project announced at a time when more Americans are voicing concern about China's control over the sector.
www.reuters.com www.reuters.com
 
Grey Havoc said:
www.defensenews.com

US Navy, armaments consortium forge partnership to solve energetics tech challenges

Amid fears about the strained industrial base for energetics, a key part of munitions and other conventional weapons, the Navy has awarded a six-year contract to accelerate tech breakthroughs over the next six to ten years.
www.defensenews.com www.defensenews.com
Click to expand...
You should never have stories like this. Energetics should be so lavishly funded they try and give money back to DOD cause there’s too much to spend.
 
bobbymike said:

ROCKET FACTORY IN-A-BOX MISSILE PROPULSION ANYTIME, ANYWHERE – Air Force Research Laboratory

afresearchlab.com afresearchlab.com
Click to expand...

It took a while to separate the meat of this project from the buzzwords - the video is clear, but the webpage is awful.

They're proposing to create a rapid prototyping facility that can mix a solid propellant, use 3D printing to create motor segments and a nozzle, and carbon filament winding to wrap a casing around that motor.
All to fit in the space of 4 shipping containers.
The goal of this project is to produce and test AMRAAM 5 motors. A follow-on project would be to deploy these facilities so they can rapidly create custom motors for various missiles in-theater.
According to the video, it can currently take up to 10 years to produce prototype solid rocket motors, the goal is to reduce this.
 

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
For example, China since 2011 has been building weapons with CL-20, an energetic material invented in the United States 35 years ago that produces less visible exhaust, but that we ourselves have not used operationally because of production and environmental challenges
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That paragraph just pis*** me off like you wouldn’t believe. :mad:
 
bobbymike said:

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
For example, China since 2011 has been building weapons with CL-20, an energetic material invented in the United States 35 years ago that produces less visible exhaust, but that we ourselves have not used operationally because of production and environmental challenges
————————————————-
That paragraph just pis*** me off like you wouldn’t believe. :mad:
Click to expand...

Just because you haven’t heard of it being used operationally, doesn’t mean it is not being used.
 
Last edited:
Calphor said:
bobbymike said:

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials

U.S. Needs to Refocus on Energetic Materials
www.nationaldefensemagazine.org www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
For example, China since 2011 has been building weapons with CL-20, an energetic material invented in the United States 35 years ago that produces less visible exhaust, but that we ourselves have not used operationally because of production and environmental challenges
————————————————-
That paragraph just pis*** me off like you wouldn’t believe. :mad:
Click to expand...

Just because you haven’t heard of it being used operationally, doesn’t mean it is not being used.
Click to expand...
Occam's razor.
 
We’re running out. Russia’s running out from fires.

How about we do new things?
 
Have we got to the point where we can't see the forest for the trees. We should have learned
something when they started using tungsten in 5.56 rounds to make them earth friendly knowing
of our limited supply. Now we can't use our own energetic materials but other countries can.
 
bobbymike said:
www.army.mil

Center’s energetics experts look to the future of propulsion

If one is looking for a desk job or cube farm, look elsewhere. Energetics is hands-on -- or gloves-on -- engineering.
www.army.mil www.army.mil
Click to expand...

Whew! So the teenagers are taking over. I hope retiring "energetic materials" scientists took a page from the Campbell's Soup company. They had their top man explain the various processes involved in getting formulations, and especially, cooking machinery, just right, and put it on video.
 

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