China Conducts Magnesium Hydride Non-Nuclear Explosive Test

The hydrogen-driven explosion created an intense flame surpassing 1,000°C (1,832°F) for more than two seconds, 15 times longer than the heat duration of a comparable TNT blast.

ASIA — Chinese scientists carried out a field experiment with a non-nuclear explosive device powered by magnesium hydride, a material that releases hydrogen gas to produce a prolonged heat output.

Image is merely a representation of the approximate size of the explosion. Due to copyright restrictions we are unable to post the photo released by the institute.

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The hydrogen-driven explosion created an intense flame surpassing 1,000°C (1,832°F) for more than two seconds, 15 times longer than the heat duration of a comparable TNT blast.

This was outlined in a March 2025 article by Wang Xuefeng from the 705 Research Institute, part of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), published in the Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance.

On January 14, 2025, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics announced the completion of a pilot phase for a Shaanxi facility on January 10, 2025, capable of producing 150 tons of magnesium hydride annually. The precise date of the experiment could not be verified, but it likely preceded the March 2025 publication.

Key Developments

• 2025-01-14, 00:00 UTC (Approximate): The Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics announced the completion of a pilot phase for a Shaanxi facility on January 10, 2025, with an annual capacity of 150 tons of magnesium hydride, as stated in the institute’s official release (Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, January 14, 2025).

• 2025-03-31, 23:59 UTC (Approximate): Wang Xuefeng’s paper, published in the Journal of Projectiles, Rockets, Missiles and Guidance, described the non-nuclear hydrogen bomb test, achieving an intense flame surpassing 1,000°C for over two seconds, reported by the South China Morning Post (April 19, 2025).

• 2025-04-19, 12:00 UTC: The South China Morning Post detailed the test, referencing the March 2025 paper. Secondary outlets, including Business Standard, The Indian Express, and Swarajya Mag, on April 20, 2025, confirmed technical details and noted the Shaanxi facility’s launch “earlier this year.”

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