China shows off graphite bomb: it's a weapon to cut off entire cities from electricity (video)
China's state television channel CCTV has shown an animated video of a new Chinese development - a missile with a graphite warhead that can paralyse the power supply of entire regions. As conceived by the developers, the weapon does not destroy buildings or equipment, but "jams" the power system, creating the effect of a complete blackout. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.
The warhead contains 90 submunitions that open in the air after launch and scatter carbon fibres. The fibres cause short circuits in high-voltage networks, effectively "switching off" critical infrastructure facilities such as substations, power lines and transformers. The strike zone is at least 10,000 square metres. The missile has a range of 290 km.
According to analysts, this weapon fits perfectly into China's military doctrine of "war on systems". This means that the main goal is not physical destruction, but the paralysis of communications, energy and enemy command centres.
Weapons without smoke and explosions
Graphite bombs are not new to military technology. They were actively used by the United States during operations in Yugoslavia and Iraq. For example, in Iraq, after one strike, the city of Nasiriyah was left without electricity for more than 30 days. However, Beijing is now not only repeating this technology, but also adapting it for its own purposes in possible conflicts, in particular around Taiwan.
Analysts note that such weapons allow to strike at the enemy's infrastructure without massive destruction and casualties. However, there is a caveat: a blackout is followed by a humanitarian catastrophe - without water, communication, medical care and transport.
Why it is dangerous
China is not only testing weapons - it is demonstrating them as an element of psychological pressure. The message is clear: Beijing can "shut down" entire cities, command centres and military installations without firing a single shot. This is a very worrying signal for Taiwan and its allies.
China has full control over the production of graphite, a key component for these weapons. It also has the industrial base for mass production of missiles. This makes the new system not an exotic toy but a real tool of strategic blackmail.
The era of "war without explosions" no longer looks like a fantasy. The Chinese graphite bomb is the weapon of the future for infrastructure wars. Its task is not to destroy cities, but to make them uninhabitable. And it is perhaps even more terrifying than traditional missiles.
