Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect new details of BAE Systems' new chemical process that the company confirmed to the Kyiv Independent after initial publication. The West is failing to catch up to Russia's production of the most basic unit of war for the past half-millennium — gunpowder.
  • NoSpotOfGround@lemmy.world
    19·
    4 days ago

    There are multiple reasons. Raw materials or chemicals feature lower profit margins than end-stage weapons. They also leave massive environmental footprints, particularly of nitric and sulphuric acid, which are key to making everything from nitrocellulose to RDX.

    • sepi@piefed.socialEnglish
      13·
      3 days ago

      Oh yeah russia doesn’t give two shits if you have some nitrogen compound that makes ugly orange-red fumes all over the place. It’s like their hobby.