GINC Technology
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing

Energetic Materials

The capacity to research, formulate and produce energetic materials, propellant and explosives chemistry, at the quality and scale national programmes require.

Capability group
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing
Domain
Critical Technology · Hard Power
Identifier
factbase.org/cap/XG4SE74C1K
Reference
Energetic material Wikipedia

Papers

4.9k

2020–2024

Paper growth

+18%

2020–24 on 2015–19

Patent families

3.1k

2020–2024

Filed abroad

9%

families in more than one office

Framework

What it covers

What the capability covers and what it leaves to others, and the indicators it will be measured by.

Bounds

Covers the chemistry and its production technology; munitions manufacture and magazine depth belong to National Security's sustainment and industrial capabilities, and explosives plants to Strategic Infrastructure.

Lineage

Carried from v0.0 (formerly Advanced explosives and energetic materials) with the same identifier; recast from a definition of energetic substances to the national chemistry-and-production capacity, with the weapons employment seam stated.

Indicators

  • research publication share in energetic materialsResearch
  • propellant and explosives production capacityPending
Research

Who publishes it

Papers classified to the capability, by year and by the nation of their authors' institutions, 2020–2024. Read from the v0.0 research topic Advanced explosives and energetic materials.

Papers by year

The five leading nations, papers by year

Share of papers, 2020–2024

Of papers with a known author nation; 30% have none and are left out.

  1. 1China43.8%1,694 papers
  2. 2United States16.1%622 papers
  3. 3Russia6.8%263 papers
  4. 4India5.8%225 papers
  5. 5Germany2.9%113 papers
  6. 6France1.8%69 papers
  7. 7United Kingdom1.8%69 papers
  8. 8Egypt1.5%59 papers
  9. 9Poland1.4%54 papers
  10. 10South Korea1.3%50 papers

Leading institutions, 2020–2024

By fractional count: each paper divided among its authors' institutions.

  1. 1Nanjing University of Science and Technology300fractional papers
  2. 2Beijing Institute of Technology274fractional papers
  3. 3China Academy of Engineering Physics113fractional papers
  4. 4North University of China110fractional papers
  5. 5Purdue University West Lafayette83fractional papers
  6. 6Los Alamos National Laboratory72fractional papers
  7. 7Northwestern Polytechnical University64fractional papers
  8. 8Southwest University of Science and Technology55fractional papers
  9. 9Military Technical College45fractional papers
  10. 10Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München43fractional papers
Patents

Who patents it

Patent families by the nation of origin of their applicants and their earliest priority year, from the CPC and IPC classes the capability is read from. 2025 onwards is incomplete: families are published 18 months after priority.

Families by priority year

The five leading origins, families by year

640 applicants filed here in 2015–2024; the five largest held 8% of families (HHI 38 of 10,000: unconcentrated).

Share of families by origin, 2020–2024

  1. 1China82.1%2,507 families
  2. 2United States3.8%116 families
  3. 3South Korea3.1%96 families
  4. 4Russia1.8%55 families
  5. 5Japan1.6%50 families
  6. 6Germany1.3%41 families
  7. 7France1.0%32 families
  8. 8Australia0.4%13 families
  9. 9Türkiye0.4%13 families
  10. 10United Kingdom0.4%12 families

Applicants filing most internationally, 2015–2024

Families filed in more than one office, by applicant as the offices name them.

  1. 1ARIANEGROUP SAS22international families
  2. 2DAICEL CORP19international families
  3. 3BAE SYSTEMS PLC16international families
  4. 4EURENCO FRANCE14international families
  5. 5AGENCY DEFENSE DEV13international families
  6. 6HUBEI HANGPENG CHEMICAL POWER TECH CO LTD13international families
  7. 7EURENCO FRANCE SAS11international families
  8. 8AEROJET ROCKETDYNE INC9international families
  9. 9AUTOLIV ASP INC9international families
  10. 10DYNO NOBEL ASIA PACIFIC PTY LTD9international families

Classification read

  • C06B Explosive and thermic compositions and their manufacture · 83k documents
  • C06C Detonators, primers and fuses · 11.7k documents
  • C06D Propellant gas generation and smoke compositions · 11.9k documents

Shares inventions with

Capabilities whose classes the same families also fall in, by overlap (Jaccard).

Companies

Who makes it

The companies that research, design, make, supply and operate the technology, the global leaders and the leading firms of every region.

50 companies in this capability, from 25 nations across 8 regions. Sorted by how experts see each company's global relevance in the field, from very high to very low.

  1. Very high6 companies
  2. 1

    United StatesNorthrop Grumman

    Largest US producer of solid rocket propellants and motors (ex-Orbital ATK) and a leading military energetics producer at Bacchus and Allegany Ballistics Laboratory.

    Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Falls Church · founded 1939 · 97k staff

  3. 2

    United KingdomBAE Systems

    Operates the US Army's Holston (RDX/HMX) and Radford (nitrocellulose and propellant) plants and UK energetics at Glascoed, and is a top international patent applicant in energetic materials.

    Very high relevance · Systems integration · United Kingdom, London · founded 1999 · 100k staff

  4. 3

    GermanyRheinmetall

    Europe's largest propellant and explosives group through Nitrochemie (Switzerland/Germany), Rheinmetall Expal (Spain) and Rheinmetall Denel Munition (South Africa), with new TNT and nitrocellulose capacity under construction.

    Very high relevance · Systems integration · Germany, Düsseldorf · founded 1889 · 31k staff

  5. 4

    AustraliaOrica

    World's largest supplier of commercial explosives (ammonium-nitrate emulsions, initiating systems) to mining and quarrying.

    Very high relevance · Chemicals & gases · Australia, Melbourne · founded 1874

  6. 5

    ChinaChina North Industries Group (NORINCO Group)

    China's main state producer of military explosives, propellants and nitrocellulose through subsidiaries such as Gansu Yinguang Chemical, Anhui Jiangnan Chemical and the Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute (204th).

    Very high relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1980

  7. 6

    United StatesL3Harris Technologies

    Through Aerojet Rocketdyne (acquired 2023) produces solid rocket motors and propellants for GMLRS, Javelin, Stinger and SM-series missiles at Camden, Arkansas.

    Very high relevance · Systems integration · United States, Melbourne · founded 1895 · 47k staff

  8. High11 companies
  9. 7

    FranceEurenco

    Europe's specialist in explosives, propellant powders and fuel additives (Sorgues, Bergerac nitrocellulose via Manuco, Karlskoga, Vihtavuori-era Bofors heritage), owned by the French state agency APE.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · France, Massy · founded 2004

  10. 8

    FranceArianeGroup

    Airbus-Safran joint venture that formulates and casts solid propellants for Ariane boosters and the French M51 ballistic missile, and the top international patent applicant in this capability.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · France, Les Mureaux · founded 2015 · 7,600 staff

  11. 9

    ChinaChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

    Its 4th Academy (Academy of Aerospace Solid Propulsion Technology, Xi'an) and 42nd Institute lead Chinese composite solid-propellant research and production.

    High relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1999 · 180k staff

  12. 10

    NorwayNammo

    Norwegian-Finnish state-owned group making propellants (Nammo Vihtavuori), rocket motors and high explosives for NATO ammunition.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · Norway, Raufoss · founded 1998

  13. 11

    United KingdomChemring Group

    Produces HMX/RDX-based high explosives at Chemring Nobel (Norway) plus pyrotechnics, igniters and energetic devices in the UK and US.

    High relevance · Components & subsystems · United Kingdom, Romsey · founded 1905

  14. 12

    AustraliaDyno Nobel

    Second-largest global commercial explosives maker (ammonium nitrate, emulsions, initiators); renamed from Incitec Pivot in March 2025.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Australia, Melbourne · founded 2003

  15. 13

    JapanDaicel

    World-leading maker of gas-generant propellants and pyrotechnic inflators for airbags, plus defence propellants and nitrocellulose; second-largest patent applicant here.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Osaka · founded 1919

  16. 14

    IndiaSolar Industries India

    India's largest explosives maker, producing commercial explosives, HMX, TNT and propellants for Pinaka rockets and Indian missile programmes.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · India, Nagpur · founded 1995

  17. 15

    SpainMAXAM

    Nobel-founded Spanish group that is one of the largest commercial explosives and initiation-systems producers worldwide.

    High relevance · Chemicals & gases · Spain, Madrid · founded 1872

  18. 16

    South KoreaHanwha Aerospace

    Absorbed Hanwha Corporation's defence business (2022) and produces explosives, propellants and solid rocket motors for Korean missiles and launch vehicles.

    High relevance · Hardware & devices · South Korea, Changwon · founded 1977

  19. 17

    United StatesGeneral Dynamics

    GD Ordnance and Tactical Systems makes propellants and nitrocellulose at Valleyfield (Canada) and runs energetic loading and new TNT capacity for the US Army.

    High relevance · Systems integration · United States, Reston · founded 1952 · 112k staff

  20. Moderate18 companies
  21. 18

    United StatesDay & Zimmermann

    Operates US Army energetics and load-assemble-pack plants (Iowa AAP) and makes energetic components and fuzes.

    Moderate relevance · Professional & data services · United States, Philadelphia · founded 1901

  22. 19

    United StatesOlin (Winchester)

    Winchester operates Lake City Army Ammunition Plant and produces ball propellant at St. Marks, Florida.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Clayton, Missouri · founded 1892

  23. 20

    United StatesNewMarket (AMPAC)

    Its subsidiary American Pacific is the sole North American producer of ammonium perchlorate, the oxidiser in most solid rocket propellants.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · United States, Richmond, Virginia · founded 2004

  24. 21

    SwedenAutoliv

    World's largest airbag maker, formulating and producing pyrotechnic gas-generant propellants for inflators; a top patent applicant in this field.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Sweden, Stockholm · founded 1953

  25. 22

    JapanNOF Corporation

    Japan's main producer of military propellants, explosives and rocket propellants for the Japan Self-Defense Forces and JAXA.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1937

  26. 23

    ChinaChina Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)

    Its 6th Academy and subsidiary Hubei Hangpeng Chemical Power Technology develop solid propellants, rocket motors and gas generants and appear among top patent applicants.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · China, Beijing · founded 1956

  27. 24

    IsraelElbit Systems

    Through IMI Systems (acquired 2018) produces explosives, propellants and rocket motors in Israel.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Haifa · founded 1966 · 20k staff

  28. 25

    IsraelRafael Advanced Defense Systems

    Israeli state firm with in-house energetic-materials and solid-propulsion R&D for Iron Dome, David's Sling and Spike missiles.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · Israel, Haifa · founded 1948

  29. 26

    FranceThales

    Operates Australia's Mulwala propellant and explosives facility and Benalla munitions plant, producing nitrocellulose-based propellants and high explosives.

    Moderate relevance · Systems integration · France, Paris · founded 1893 · 83k staff

  30. 27

    South KoreaPoongsan

    South Korea's main ammunition producer, making propellants and explosive fills for artillery and small arms.

    Moderate relevance · Advanced materials · South Korea, Seoul · founded 1968

  31. 28

    IndiaMunitions India

    Corporatised ordnance factories (Bhandara, Itarsi, Khamaria and others) producing nitrocellulose, propellants, RDX and TNT for India's armed forces.

    Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · India, Pune · founded 2021

  32. 29

    TürkiyeRoketsan

    Turkey's rocket and missile maker, producing composite and double-base solid propellants and insensitive explosives in-house.

    Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1988

  33. 30

    TürkiyeMKE (Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi)

    Turkish state ammunition and chemicals group that produces nitrocellulose, propellant powders and TNT/RDX fills.

    Moderate relevance · Hardware & devices · Türkiye, Ankara · founded 1950

  34. 31

    CzechiaExplosia

    Czech state producer of Semtex plastic explosive, nitrocellulose propellant powders and industrial explosives.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Czechia, Pardubice · founded 1920

  35. 32

    PolandNitro-Chem

    Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) subsidiary and one of the world's largest TNT producers, also making explosive fills for NATO munitions.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Poland, Bydgoszcz

  36. 33

    ChileEnaex

    Latin America's largest explosives and ammonium-nitrate producer (Mejillones), owner of Brazil's Britanite and Davey Bickford, controlled by Sigdo Koppers.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · Chile, Santiago · founded 1920

  37. 34

    South AfricaAECI (AEL Mining Services)

    Its AECI Mining Explosives (formerly AEL) unit, founded on the 1896 Modderfontein plant, is Africa's largest commercial explosives and initiating-systems maker.

    Moderate relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1924

  38. 35

    JapanIHI Corporation

    IHI Aerospace makes composite solid propellants and motors for JAXA's Epsilon and H3 boosters and Japanese missiles.

    Moderate relevance · Components & subsystems · Japan, Tokyo · founded 1853

  39. Low13 companies
  40. 36

    South KoreaAgency for Defense Development (ADD)

    Korean state defence R&D agency with a major energetic-materials and propulsion programme; among the top international patent applicants here.

    Low relevance · Research & IP · South Korea, Daejeon · founded 1970

  41. 37

    FinlandForcit

    Nordic explosives maker supplying commercial explosives and TNT/insensitive explosive fills (Forcit Defence) to Finnish and European forces.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Finland, Hanko · founded 1893

  42. 38

    South AfricaDenel

    South African state defence group whose Denel Dynamics and PMP retain solid rocket propellant and energetic capabilities (its Somchem/Naschem assets are now within Rheinmetall Denel Munition).

    Low relevance · Systems integration · South Africa, Centurion · founded 1992

  43. 39

    South AfricaOmnia Holdings (BME)

    Its BME subsidiary produces bulk emulsion explosives and AXXIS electronic initiation systems across Africa and beyond.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · South Africa, Johannesburg · founded 1953

  44. 40

    United StatesX-Bow Systems

    Startup building new US solid rocket motor and energetics production (Luling, Texas) with Army and Navy contracts.

    Low relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Houston · founded 2016

  45. 41

    United StatesUrsa Major

    Startup developing additively manufactured solid rocket motors and propellant production for US tactical missiles.

    Low relevance · Components & subsystems · United States, Berthoud · founded 2015

  46. 42

    ChinaGuangdong Hongda Holdings

    One of China's largest civil explosives and blasting-services groups, controlled by Guangdong provincial state assets.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Guangzhou · founded 1988

  47. 43

    ChinaPoly Union Chemical Holding

    Poly Group's civil explosives arm (formerly Guizhou Jiulian), among China's largest producers of industrial explosives and detonators.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · China, Guiyang · founded 1999

  48. 44

    PakistanPakistan Ordnance Factories

    Pakistan's state arsenal, producing nitrocellulose, propellants and high explosives for national and export ammunition.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Pakistan, Wah Cantonment · founded 1951

  49. 45

    United Arab EmiratesEDGE Group

    UAE state defence conglomerate whose Lahab and Al Tariq units build domestic ammunition, explosive fill and rocket-motor capability.

    Low relevance · Systems integration · United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi · founded 2019

  50. 46

    Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI)

    PIF-owned group that absorbed the Military Industries Corporation and is localising propellant, explosives and munitions production in Saudi Arabia.

    Low relevance · Systems integration · Saudi Arabia, Riyadh · founded 2017

  51. 47

    BrazilIMBEL (Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil)

    Brazilian Army-owned firm whose Piquete and Juiz de Fora plants produce nitrocellulose, propellant powders and high explosives.

    Low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Brazil, Brasília · founded 1975

  52. 48

    BrazilAvibras

    Brazil's rocket maker (ASTROS) with in-house composite solid propellant production; under court-supervised restructuring since 2022.

    Low relevance · Hardware & devices · Brazil, São José dos Campos · founded 1961

  53. Very low2 companies
  54. 49

    IndonesiaPT Dahana

    Indonesian state explosives maker (DEFEND ID member) supplying mining explosives and developing military energetic materials and rocket propellants.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Indonesia, Subang · founded 1966

  55. 50

    ColombiaINDUMIL (Industria Militar)

    Colombian state monopoly producer of commercial and military explosives (emulsions, TNT-based charges) and ammunition.

    Very low relevance · Chemicals & gases · Colombia, Bogotá · founded 1954

These companies in the Companies table →