The move came amid an increase in US defense support for Taiwan and a quest for China’s domination in southern China, Business Insider reported.
According to a report from the South China Morning Post, the explosive device weighing 2 kilograms was developed by the China State Shipbuilding Company (CSSC) 705 Research Institute, known for its work on underwater weapons systems. Unlike traditional nuclear bombs, the device uses a magnesium-based solid hydrogen storage material known as magnesium hydride, which can store more hydrogen than a pressurized tank.
When activated, magnesium hydride undergoes rapid pyrolysis, igniting a sustained fireball above 1,000 degrees Celsius, over 2 seconds of continuous fireballs, which are released 15 times longer than comparable TNT blasts. This combustion results in extensive thermal damage sufficient to melt the aluminum alloy, precisely controlling the blast strength and achieving uniform destruction in a vast area.
According to a paper published in the journal Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance in Chinese, the test included a series of experiments showing the weapon’s dictated energy potential. Under the controlled explosion, the peak overpressure reached 428.43 kilopascals at 2 meters from the bomb. This was almost 40% stronger with a comparable TNT explosion, but the heat it unleashed reached far beyond what TNT could achieve.
MNA