US pushes advanced explosives to cut costly munitions demand
The Pentagon’s latest budget signals a shift toward next-generation explosives like CL-20, a move that could reduce reliance on expensive precision missiles and reshape transatlantic defence procurement.
The US Department of Defense is using its fiscal 2027 budget to push for the adoption of advanced energetic materials, moving away from Second World War-era explosives. Driven by the rapid depletion of weapons in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Pentagon wants to maximize the range and explosive power of its missiles, drones, and bombs.
American defense planners have historically resisted novel compounds like CL-20 due to the steep upfront costs of testing and manufacturing. Meanwhile, Russian and Chinese forces are already fielding weapons equipped with these superior materials, creating a capability gap for Washington as it focuses on the Indo-Pacific.
Analysts at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments argue that fixating on these upfront expenses ignores broader financial realities. Given that critical precision-guided munitions frequently exceed $1 million per unit, more powerful explosives could destroy targets with fewer missiles. Over a long military campaign, even marginal gains in explosive power significantly reduce total munition expenditures.
For European allies, this conceptual shift in Washington has direct economic and security implications. Europe relies heavily on American industrial capacity to replenish its own depleted stockpiles. If the US achieves its strategic objectives with fewer munitions, it preserves manufacturing bandwidth that European governments depend on to fill their own orders.
The financial logic extends beyond the munitions themselves. More efficient propellants increase range or reduce weapon weight, allowing aircraft and naval vessels to strike from safer distances. This reduces the attrition of expensive platforms, a critical cost-saving measure for a US military stretched by global commitments.
Washington does not need to build this technology from scratch. Ukraine's successful use of CL-20 in its own weapons provides a practical proof of concept for American planners. Furthermore, a fiscal 2024 defense bill already mandated pilot programs to integrate CL-20 into three specific American weapons systems.
As these pilot programs expand, the Pentagon is expected to target hypersonic weapons, small unmanned systems, and bunker-busting munitions. For European defence ministries and contractors, Washington's new standards will likely dictate the future technological baseline that NATO-standard weapons must eventually meet.
