The U.S. military’s plan to purchase millions of drones is running up against a critical supply chain weakness: a shortage of explosives needed to arm them, The Wall Street Journal reports.
Domestic production has dwindled since World War II, leaving the Pentagon dependent on aging facilities and a limited number of suppliers as conflicts in Ukraine and Iran strain global inventories. The shortage threatens efforts to replenish weapons stockpiles and prepare for a potential conflict with China.
The Pentagon’s $1.1 billion Drone Dominance initiative aims to acquire an arsenal of low-cost drones by the end of 2027, including 60,000 attack drones designed to carry explosives. Unlike traditional weapons, which are often expensive and used sparingly, attack drones are deployed in large numbers to overwhelm defenses, creating unprecedented demand for explosive materials known as energetics.
The country’s main producer of powerful explosives HMX and RDX, the 84-year-old Holston Army Ammunition Plant, produces about 3% of its 1944 peak output and faces safety concerns and a one- to two-year backlog. The Army has committed $1 billion to modernize the facility, but upgrades have been delayed until 2029 or later. A new research facility in Kentucky is also expected to boost production before 2031.
Meanwhile, private companies are seeking to fill the gap. Odin Energetics, a joint venture between chemicals company Solugen and defense startup Kraken Kinetics, has committed $115 million to develop advanced explosives, including a formula its executives say is 30% more powerful than explosives currently used on military drones. Its modular factories could be deployed near military bases or battlefields, reducing storage risks and speeding production.
Odin says it could begin supplying the military in small quantities next year, as the Pentagon explores additional funding and procurement options.
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