HNIW
Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
Chemical compound
Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane, also called HNIW and CL-20, is a polycyclic nitroamine explosive with the formula C6H6N12O12. In the 1980s, CL-20 was developed by the China Lake facility, primarily to be used in propellants.[1] It has a better oxidizer-to-fuel ratio than conventional HMX or RDX. It releases 20% more energy than traditional HMX-based propellants.
While most development of CL-20 has been fielded by the Thiokol Corporation, the US Navy (through ONR) has also been interested in CL-20 for use in rocket propellants, such as for missiles, as it has lower observability characteristics such as less visible smoke.[2]
Thus far, CL-20 has only been used in the AeroVironment Switchblade 300 “kamikaze” drone, but is undergoing testing for use in the Lockheed Martin [LMT] AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER).[3]
The Indian Armed Forces have also looked into CL-20.[4]