Improving the reaction performance of traditional binary thermites is one of the research hotspots in the field of energetic materials in recent years. The introduction of additives to form composite thermite is an effective method. According to the application fields and the different effects of additives， the composite thermites were divided into fuel-enhanced type， gas-producing type and modified additive type. The research status of composite thermite and its related engineering applications were reviewed， and then the new research directions and ideas for composite thermite were proposed， including the use and preparation of new alloy fuels and alloy hydrides， the combined use of non-azide gas generating agents and thermite， the influence of the types and amounts of inert additives， and the coating technology of the binder on the surface of the thermite， etc.