Electrochemical devices are uniquely qualified for meeting the portability, speed, cost and power demands of field detection of nitroaromatic explosives. The inherent redox activity of these compounds makes them ideal candidates for electrochemical detection. The coupling of modern electrochemical detection principles with recent advances in microelectronics and microfabrication has led to powerful, compact and ‘user-friendly‘ explosive detection devices. Recent activity in our laboratory has led to disposable sensor strips, submersible sensors (on a cable or underwater-vehicle platforms), a voltammetric flow detector, and amperometric detectors for microchip (‘Lab-on-Chip’) devices for on-site electrochemical measurements of organic and inorganic explosives. The unique features of such electrochemical monitoring systems make them particularly attractive for addressing related security and environmental problems.