China's "hydrogen non-nuclear bomb": some details

 

The main secret of this new type of ammunition lies in a material called magnesium hydride. When it encounters high temperature or a catalyst, it quickly decomposes into magnesium and hydrogen. The hydrogen then burns violently with the surrounding oxygen, instantly releasing a large amount of heat and forming a large fireball.

Usually, magnesium hydride is a solid that is safe to transport and store. The decomposition process can also be precisely controlled. The energy per unit mass is higher than that of standard TNT. During the experiment, a "hydrogen non-nuclear bomb" weighing only 2 kg detonated, instantly creating a fireball with a temperature of more than 1000 degrees. Celsius. Gorenje ball's burning time was more than two seconds.

For comparison, the temperature of the TNT explosion of the same mass is not so high, and the duration of the fireball is even shorter, only 1/16 of the previous one. However, the "hydrogen non-nuclear bomb" also has weaknesses. The maximum pressure created by its explosion is less than half the pressure of TNT.

The difference between these two explosives determines their "specialization." Conventional TNT-based munitions form a super-strong shockwave of instant explosion, but their ability to withstand high temperatures is weak. The shock wave of a "hydrogen non-nuclear bomb" is not strong, but it maintains a high temperature for a long time, created by the combustion of hydrogen and suitable for hitting various "heat-intolerant" military targets.

In general, although the "hydrogen non-nuclear bomb" cannot replace traditional ammunition, it will definitely find its place on the battlefield of the future. Its appearance vividly demonstrates China's capabilities in the research and development of new ammunition.

Russia has developed the high-altitude aviation cruise missile X-69

Multifunctional low-visibility high-altitude aviation cruise missile of the new generation X-69

It was created in the GosMKB Raduga named after A.Ya. Bereznyak. It is designed to destroy a wide range of ground-based stationary targets with known location coordinates before launch and with previously known information signs of the target area.The rocket has a close to square cross-section. This, firstly, facilitates its placement in the internal armament compartments of fifth-generation fighters, and secondly, the fuselage of this type, combined with other design features, reduces the radar visibility of the missile. The fuselage is 4.19 m long, the width and height with folded wing and tail consoles are 40 cm, and the wingspan is 2.45 m.

The X-69 rocket is equipped with a combined navigation and automatic control system (SNAU) based on a free-form inertial system (BINS), integrated with consumer navigation equipment (NAP) of information from commercial satellite navigation systems (SNS) GLONASS and GPS NAVSTAR, as well as with an integrated radio-technical altitude and speed meter (FARC) and opticalelectronic system (OE-M). A four-channel electromechanical steering gear is used as an executive element of the SNAU.The mainline dual-circuit turbojet engine accelerates the X-69 to 700-1000 km/h. The maximum flight range is 290 km, the height above the earth's surface, depending on the terrain, is 50-300 m.The X-69 missile can be part of the onboard means of destruction of Su-57 fighters, as well as placed on the external suspension of generation 4++ and 4+ Su-35, Su-30MK, Su-34, MiG-35, MiG-29K and others aircraft.

Specifications:

- Launch range, km: 290

- Flight speed, number of M (km/h): 0.8 (1000)

- Type of warhead: penetrating or cluster

- Mass of the warhead, kg: 310 or 300

- Guidance system: a free-of-charge integrated system with the consumer's navigation system + satellite navigation system + optoelectronic final guidance system OE-M

- Launch weight of the rocket, kg: up to 770

- Length x width x height x wingspan of the rocket, m: 4.19 x 0.4 x 0.4 x 2.45

Russia's use of a new type of subsonic X-69 air-to-surface cruise missile has raised fears in Kiev and the West that the Russian Aerospace Forces have acquired weapons even "more dangerous" than the Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missile. It was the X-69 that was used by the Russian military for strikes that destroyed the transformer, turbines and generators of the Tripoli thermal power plant near the Ukrainian capital, military analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) concluded.A special "danger" in terms of consequences for the Ukrainian side is the fact that the X-69 is very difficult to detect with air defense systems, since the missile is capable of maintaining an altitude of only about 20 meters when following the target.

The American company Anduril Industries has announced the production of a Roadrunner drone

 The American defense technology company Anduril Industries has announced the large—scale production of its new Roadrunner interceptor, a reusable drone designed to counter aerial threats with the ability to launch quickly.

The Roadrunner is a "reusable, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), operator—controlled autonomous aircraft (AAV)" equipped with two turbojet engines and modular payload options. These engines allow the aircraft to take off vertically without an accelerator and reach high subsonic speeds in flight.

The Roadrunner-M carries a high-explosive fragmentation warhead for hitting aerial targets, the system can be safely restored if it does not reach the target. In such cases, the drone performs a controlled vertical landing powered by its own thrust, a method comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets.

Roadrunner-M — Reusable drone

The Taiwanese company introduced the SeaShark 800 unmanned boat

 

SeaShark 800

The Taiwanese company Thunder Tiger has introduced another crew-less boat SeaShark 800

Designed to perform reconnaissance and strike missions. It can carry explosives on board. The boat has low radar visibility. 

Control: Supports dual-mode remote control technology by both satellite signal and radio frequency, ensuring stable and reliable communication under electronic jamming conditions. 

It is equipped with a swarm control system that allows you to coordinate the actions of several backups for group attacks or distributed monitoring.

The built-in AI target identification system automatically recognizes enemy ships and other preset targets to increase accuracy during strikes.

Declared characteristics

• length — 8.1 m

• width — 2.1 m

• height — 1.9 m

• draft — 0.5 m

• total displacement — 2.7 tons

• maximum speed — over 50 knots

• Cruising range is about 324 nautical miles (600 km).

BECK will also take part in the test swims in June along with other boats.