Editing Semtex (section)

{{Short description|General purpose plastic explosive}}
{{Other uses}}
[[File:Semtex H 1.jpg|thumb|Samples of semtex and other plastic explosives]]

'''Semtex''' is a general-purpose [[plastic explosive]] containing [[RDX]] and [[Pentaerythritol tetranitrate|PETN]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives-compositions.htm|title=Explosives - Compounds|first=John|last=Pike|website=www.globalsecurity.org|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> It is used in commercial blasting, [[demolition]], and in certain [[military]] applications.

Semtex was developed and manufactured in [[Czechoslovakia]], originally under the name '''B 1''' and then under the "Semtex" designation since 1964,{{#tag:ref|Various sources state that production started in 1964 or 1966. Explosia's brief historical document states it was 1964,<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.explosia.cz/en/?show=semtex|title=Explosia|website=www.explosia.cz|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref> but most other credible sources state it was in 1966. Most of these also state that development was started at the same time, in response to a request from [[Vietnam]] for a counterpart to the United States manufacture of [[C-4 (explosive)|C-4]].|group=note}} labeled as ''SEMTEX 1A'', since 1967 as ''SEMTEX H'', and since 1987 as ''SEMTEX 10''.

Originally developed for Czechoslovak military use and export, Semtex eventually became popular with armed groups and insurgents because, prior to the 2000s, it was extremely difficult to detect,<ref>Schubert, Hiltmar. ''Detection of Explosives and Landmines: Methods and Field Experience''. pp. 93–101 {{ISBN|1-4020-0692-6}}</ref> as in the case of [[Pan Am Flight 103]].