Ukraine War Triggers TNT Shortage in the US: New Factory Planned for Kentucky

The War in Ukraine Creates TNT Crisis in the US

The full-scale war in Ukraine has had consequences far beyond Europe’s borders. In the United States, the defense industry is now reporting an acute shortage of TNT, a key component in artillery shells, missiles, and various other weapons systems.

Poland remains Washington’s only official supplier of TNT, but much of the country’s capacity is now devoted to supplying Ukraine’s frontlines. Russia and China—both former suppliers—have entirely halted exports to the US. The result is a strained American supply chain.

$435 Million Allocated for New Factory in Kentucky

In response, the US Congress has approved the construction of a new TNT factory in Kentucky. The project is expected to cost around $435 million and should be operational by the end of 2028.

“We cannot allow our military readiness to be weakened by reliance on foreign suppliers,” said a senior US official, according to The New York Times.

The new facility will be dedicated solely to military use and is intended as a strategic safeguard against future bottlenecks in weapons production.

Alternatives to TNT Considered—But Not Without Issues

One possible solution could be to replace TNT with pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), which is already produced at three American plants. However, experts note that PETN is both more expensive and technically more challenging to use on a large scale.

“At this point, PETN cannot be seen as a true equivalent to TNT,” says a defense analyst.

This leaves the US in a vulnerable position, where every delay in production could impact both deliveries to Ukraine and the country’s own military readiness.

From the Battlefield to the Home Front: Ripple Effects Spread

The shortage of TNT is not only felt in the defense sector. Several civilian industries that depend on explosives for industrial purposes are also experiencing increasing pressure.

For the US, more is at stake than just supporting Ukraine’s frontlines. The new Kentucky factory has become a symbol of how a distant conflict can create a daunting dilemma at home: Can the world’s largest military power still count on unlimited access to its most basic resources?

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