What is SEBEX 2?
02-07-2024
11:16 AM
1 min read
Overview:
India has successfully developed and certified SEBEX 2, a new explosive that is 2.01 times more lethal than standard Trinitrotoluene (TNT).
About SEBEX 2:
- SEBEX 2 is said to be among the most powerful non-nuclear explosives in the world.
- It utilizes a high-melting explosive (HMX) composition.
- This formulation significantly enhances the lethality of warheads, aerial bombs, artillery shells, and other munitions.
- It is 2.01 times more deadly than standard TNT (Trinitrotoluene).
- Explosive performance is gauged by TNT equivalence, with higher values indicating greater lethality.
- Currently, the most powerful conventional explosive used in India, specifically in the Brahmos warhead, has a TNT equivalence of about 1.50.
- Most conventional warheads worldwide have a TNT equivalence ranging from 1.25 to 1.30
- SEBEX 2 was manufactured by Economic Explosives Limited (EEL), Nagpur, a subsidiary of Solar Industries, under the Make in India initiative.
- It has been evaluated, tested, and certified by the Indian Navy under its Defence Export Promotion Scheme.
Complementary Technologies:
- In addition to SEBEX 2, the Indian Navy has certified SITBEX 1, a thermobaric explosive known for its extended blast duration and intense heat generation.
- This makes it highly effective in demolishing enemy bunkers, tunnels, and fortified positions.
SIMEX 4, an insensitive munition, has also received certification, emphasizing safety in storage, transport, and operation.
Q1: What is Trinitrotoluene (TNT)?
Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a pale yellow, solid organic nitrogen compound used chiefly as an explosive, prepared by stepwise nitration of toluene. Because TNT melts at 82° C (178° F) and does not explode below 240° C (464° F), it can be melted in steam-heated vessels and poured into casings. It is relatively insensitive to shock and cannot be exploded without a detonator. For these reasons it is the most favoured chemical explosive, extensively used in munitions and for demolitions.