Abstract <p>The effect of instantaneous energy release (explosion) in the gas bubble region on supersonic flow past blunt bodies (sphere) and pointed bodies (ogival body and cone-cylinder combination) is considered when the explosion occurs in unperturbed freestream flow in the immediate neighborhood of the bow shock. Physically, such an effect on the flow can occur with energy input in the region of electric gas discharge or with detonation of a combustible gas mixture inside the bubble. It is found that, in addition to the direct effect of the explosive shock wave on the surface of the body, significant non-stationary changes in the gas-dynamic flow regimes past the bodies occur during the interaction of the bow shock with the dynamically varying explosion region (shock-compressed layer and cavity). In particular, focusing and cumulation effects, which can lead to secondary effects, are noted. The momentum of the latter is comparable to or even greater than the momentum of the direct impact of the blast wave.</p>