AES Linear Shaped Charge (LSC) is an explosive enclosed in a seamless metal sheath and fabricated in continuous lengths shaped in the form of an inverted “V”. When detonated, the V-shaped metal liner with explosive core produces a uniform linear cutting action. This cutting action, known as the “Monroe effect”, can be accentuated by controlling the LSC dimensions and configuration, explosive type and load, liner thickness and continuity. At detonation, the focusing of the explosive high pressure wave as it becomes incident to the side wall causes the metal liner of the LSC to collapse–creating the cutting force. If the standoff distance is optimum, collapse of the liner will be complete before it reaches the target as a plasma jet. This high velocity jet impacts the target with pressures exceeding the target’s yield strength and literally pushes the target material to either side of the path of the jet.