Russian Expert on China's Non-Nuclear "Hydrogen Bomb": China May Have Successfully Test-Exploded a New Type of Thermobaric Bomb

Chinese scientists have conducted controlled tests on hydrogen-based explosive devices, triggering devastating chemical chain reactions without using any nuclear materials. The South China Morning Post reported this based on a research result published in the Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance earlier this month.

Vasily Kashin, a Russian military analyst, director of the Center for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, and chief researcher at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations under the Russian Foreign Ministry, pointed out in his commentary written for Sputnik that this might refer to a hydrogen-based explosive tested by Chinese experts. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that hydrogen is not commonly used in large-capacity explosive ammunition due to its many disadvantages. Hydrogen has high thermal conductivity but is difficult to store and has low density.

Expert Kashin believes that "Chinese experts obviously avoided these problems by using hydrogen compounds, most likely magnesium hydride. This is why they were able to create a lightweight, highly powerful bomb. It can spray out fuel fireballs and cause high-temperature explosions. Compared with traditional thermobaric bombs, it may have some advantages. Since it can be stored in solid form, the volume of this bomb can be very small. This is a new type of thermobaric bomb."

Kashin noted that technical details are still unknown, but ultimately it is possible to develop new types of bombs for artillery, missile systems, even grenade launchers, and new aerial bombs. Perhaps China will use this to develop new missiles.

Kashin continued, "These weapons are not restricted by international conventions and require special regulation. This is an ordinary non-nuclear, non-chemical weapon, but it may have greater destructive power and smaller mass. Based solely on publicly available information, it is difficult to determine exactly how much power it has. Clearly, it could increase the power of conventional thermobaric bombs of the same mass and size by 20-30%. However, Kashin added that it would significantly increase, but does not mean that it is fundamentally more powerful than traditional thermobaric bombs.

Kashin believes that this weapon can be used to defeat infantry behind any obstacles. A cloud of gas can leak out through some uneven cracks in the ground and burn enemies. There are many such weapons in the world. Thermobaric ammunition hits targets with shock waves and super-high temperatures. The most classic application is to destroy living forces inside various shelters, basements, and houses, especially during offensive operations.

It is still unclear when and how this weapon will be developed in series. This clearly requires time and the interest of the military. For them, standardization, storage characteristics, and cost are important. From the report, the price of this ammunition is also unknown. Perhaps all these are just China's demonstration of its technology and laying the foundation for the future; perhaps one day it will be mass-produced, but no one can give a definite answer now. Kashin emphasized at the end that the Chinese army already has weapons with thermobaric warheads, and theoretically, it is already conducting new research and development.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1830026022819033/

Disclaimer: The article only represents the views of the author.