China has made a technological breakthrough in the field of non-nuclear weapons by introducing a compact hydrogen explosive device of a fundamentally new type. During tests in April, the 2-kilogram munition demonstrated a unique ability to maintain a burning temperature of 1,000°C for two seconds - 15 times longer than traditional TNT.
The key component of the innovative weapon was magnesium hydride, a material originally developed for clean energy solutions. When a conventional explosive is detonated, this compound instantly releases hydrogen, which forms an explosive mixture with air. The resulting chain reaction creates a self-sustaining cycle of thermal effects until the fuel is completely used up, writes new-science.ru.
According to research published in peer-reviewed Chinese journals, the new weapon provides 40% less overpressure compared to TNT, but significantly surpasses it in terms of area and duration of thermal damage. The device's fireball is capable of melting aluminum over a considerable distance, opening up the prospect of a directed energy weapon.
The production breakthrough was made possible by the launch of a specialized plant in Shaanxi Province using the patented “synthesis in a single reactor” method. The plant is capable of producing up to 150 tons of magnesium hydride annually, which creates a material base for scaling up the technology. At the same time, China continues to adhere to the doctrine of no-first-use of nuclear weapons, considering the new development as an element of modern conventional weapons.
Experts note that such technologies can find application in both tactical military operations and strategic weapon systems, offering an alternative to nuclear warheads with comparable thermal effects but without radiation contamination of the terrain.