Until yesterday, when we heard “hydrogen bomb” we automatically thought of thermonuclear weapons, those that can raze entire cities to the ground. But Chinese researchers have overturned this perception. Their hydrogen bomb does not require nuclear fission or fusion: it uses a simple chemical reaction to transform magnesium hydride into a firestorm that lasts over two seconds.
Fifteen times longer than TNT, enough to melt metals and penetrate armor. A technological paradox that combines environmental sustainability and destructive capacity.
A device that redefines the rules of war
The device developed by the 705 Research Institute of China State Shipbuilding Corporation It weighs only two kilograms but generates effects that leave you speechless. During controlled tests, it produced a fireball of over 1000 degrees Celsius for over two seconds. For comparison, an equivalent TNT explosion lasts just 0,12 seconds.
The secret lies in magnesium hydride, a silvery powder originally designed for civilian energy applications. When activated by conventional explosives, it undergoes rapid thermal decomposition, releasing hydrogen gas. This gas ignites instantly, creating a sustained, self-sustaining inferno.
Wang Xuefeng, leader of the research team, explains that “hydrogen gas explosions are ignited with minimal energy, have a large radius of action, and release flames that spread rapidly.” The chain reaction begins when shock waves shatter the hydride into microscopic particles, exposing fresh surfaces that accelerate the process.
The Technology Behind the Sustained Heat from the ‘New’ Hydrogen Bomb
The peculiarity of this hydrogen bomb is, as mentioned, in the self-sustaining mechanism. The heat generated by the initial combustion further propagates the decomposition of the magnesium hydride, creating a cycle that continues until the fuel is exhausted. It is like light a fire that feeds itself, but with devastating military consequences.
Tests recorded a maximum overpressure of 428,43 kilopascals at two meters, about 40% of the explosive force of TNT. However, the thermal effects far exceed those of conventional explosives, offering a completely new approach to large-area destruction.
Industrial production and strategic implications
Until recently, magnesium hydride could only be produced in small laboratory batches, a few grams per day. production required extreme conditions and accidental exposure to air could cause fatal explosions.
This year, China opened a plant in Shaanxi province capable of producing 150 tons per year using a safer and cheaper method of synthesis. This development makes large-scale production possible, transforming a laboratory curiosity into a tangible military reality.
“Non-Nuclear” Hydrogen Bomb: Taiwan Scenario and Urban Warfare
Military analysts note that the characteristics of this hydrogen bomb make it particularly suitable for urban warfare. The ability to generate intense and prolonged heat could be devastating in densely built urban environments, such as those in Taiwan.
Unlike traditional thermobaric bombs that require bulky delivery systems, this two-kilogram device can be delivered via drones or precision-guided munitions. Its sustained heat makes it ideally suited for targets requiring thermal exposure.
The timing of the test is not coincidental, given the escalation of geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. While not a nuclear weapon, this hydrogen bomb introduces a new class of thermal weapons that can fry electronics, melt armor, or set areas ablaze to deny access.
In short, yet another piece of bad news in a global escalation that seems to have no more obstacles.
