This review covers synthesis and performance of the most prospective 1,2,5‐oxadiazole‐based high‐energy density materials (HEDMs). These materials comprise of a 1,2,5‐oxadiazole subunit as a key structural motif linked to various acyclic explosophoric groups or to nitrogen‐rich and nitrogen‐oxygen azoles: 1,2,4‐triazole, tetrazole, 1,2,4‐ and 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles.
Energetic alliances of two and more 1,2,5‐oxadiazole rings linked directly or via heteroatom spacers are also presented. A special attention is devoted to the installation of different explosophores: nitro, nitramino, azo, azoxy, dinitromethyl, trinitroethyl moieties and their combination. Promising environmentally benign energetic materials with high detonation velocity and pressure and outstanding insensitivity are summarized. Overall, presented materials may be considered as next generation environmentally benign and high performance energetic materials superior to commonly used traditional explosives (TNT, PETN, RDX, HMX).