To investigate the initiation characteristics of FOX-7 and RDX based aluminized explosive initiated by shock waves，the shock wave sensitivity test and shock initiation test were carried out. Combining shock wave attenuation characteristics in aluminum, the critical gap thickness and the critical initiation pressure of FOX-7 and RDX based alminized explosive were determined. The change in pressure history of initiation to steady detonation process was recorded through manganin piezoresistance gauges. The results show that the critical gap thickness of FOX-7 and RDX based explosive is 37.51 and 34.51mm, respectively,and the corresponding critical initiation pressure is 10.91 and 11.94GPa respectively. For FOX-7,when the initiation pressure is 11.58GPa, the distancetodetonation is from 25.49mm to 30.46 mm, the detonation pressure after steady detonation is 27.68GPa, while the detonation velocity is 8063m/s. For RDX based aluminized explosive ,when the initiation pressure is 14.18GPa, the distancetodetonation is 17.27 mm to 23.53 mm, the detonation pressure after steady detonation is 17.16GPa, while the detonation velocity is 6261m/s.