FOX 7

FOX-7 or 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethene (DADNE) is an insensitive high explosive compound. It was first synthesized in 1998 by the Swedish National Defence Research Institute (FOA).

FOX-7 is similar to the insensitive chemical compound TATB, which is a benzene ring compound with three amino and three nitro groups. FOX-7 has a two-carbon backbone rather than a benzene ring, but the amino and nitro groups have similar effects in both cases according to published reports on sensitivity and chemical decay processes of FOX-7. FOX-7 is today produced by Eureco Bofors AB in Sweden.

Its explosive properties appear extremely favorable; in addition to its insensitive properties, the detonation velocity of mixtures of 80% FOX-7 plus binders is as high as Composition B, and nearly pure FOX-7 based plastic bonded explosives are slightly superior to RDX. FOX-7 has been calculated to have a detonation velocity of 8,870 m/s.

Due to its small-scale production, the cost of FOX-7 is relatively high. However, the production is based on commercial starting material and the synthesis is uncomplicated. The price is therefore predicted to fall as production scale increases. There is no current full scale use of FOX-7, but it is being tested at several military research centers. The need for less sensitive munitions is the most important driver for testing FOX-7.