China successfully tests hydrogen bomb – media

Tengrinews.kz – China has successfully tested a non-nuclear hydrogen bomb, according to an article published in the Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance, citing the South China Morning Post.

The test involved a two-kilogram bomb that uses a solid-state hydrogen storage system based on magnesium hydride. When activated, it undergoes rapid thermal decomposition, releasing a hydrogen-containing gas that ignites. No nuclear materials are involved in the process.

"The 2kg (4.4lbs) bomb generated a fireball exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) for more than two seconds – 15 times longer than equivalent TNT blasts – without using any nuclear materials," the article states.

Such bombs cause extensive thermal damage, as the fireball generated by the explosion lasts much longer than the typical 0.12-second flash of TNT.

The publication notes that the explosive device was developed by Research Institute 705 of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation, a key designer of underwater weapons systems.

The article also highlights that magnesium hydride is a rare and difficult-to-produce material, typically manufactured in quantities of only a few grams per day under laboratory conditions involving high pressure and temperature. The production process itself carries a constant risk of explosion.