Army pushes ahead with substitute for toxic lead substance used in weaponry

Army researchers are advancing a safer, lead-free explosive compound for munitions, with full-scale production of copper-based DBX-1 targeted by 2028. A close-up shows DBX-1 filling the top of a detonator in an undated image. Army engineers developed DBX-1 as an alternative to toxic lead azide for use in detonators and fuses. (Eric Kowal/U.S. Army) Army researchers have made strides in a yearslong effort to replace a toxic lead-based explosive compound used in munitions with a less hazardous alternative, according to service officials. Advancements achieved by the Army’s Armaments Center in developing DBX-1, a copper-based compound that will supplant lead azide in devices that initiate explosive reactions, were touted by Combat Capabilities Development Command this week.

The progress came despite delays brought on by funding challenges, the New Jersey-based command said in a statement Monday. Explosive initiators trigger a series of reactions leading to detonation, allowing munitions such as grenades and artillery rounds to function as intended. Lead azide has been used in military munitions worldwide since its introduction by Germany during World War I, according to an Army and Air Force explosives manual. The compound is a highly sensitive primary explosive known for its reliability but also for the health and safety risks associated with the fumes it produces and its toxic composition, the command statement said. DBX-1 has shown