China has developed the world’s most powerful battery for high-energy weapons, capable of mass production at multiple plants across the country, according to a study published in the journal of the Military University of Engineering Sciences. This breakthrough was made possible with the direct involvement of China’s rapidly advancing automotive industry and will enhance the capabilities of the Chinese army.
Heading the project was associated researcher Yang Jiavay from the University of Electronic Science and Technology, who was previously sanctioned by the US government.
China is currently the largest manufacturer of electric vehicles and leads the global market in lithium-ion batteries. Chinese brands dominate the supply chain for electric vehicles, with over three-quarters of global production capacity located in China.
This revolutionary battery, known as Battery 40165, has record-breaking capacity that was previously thought to be impossible. Most commercially available lithium-ion batteries have limited output capacity and require at least an hour to release all accumulated energy. However, scientists claim that Battery 40165 can discharge all its energy in just 12-36 seconds, with a full recharge taking only three minutes.
The battery was developed using existing production equipment and a well-established supply chain for raw materials, making it suitable for mass production at a relatively low cost. It will serve as a compact and efficient power source for high-powered weapons.
China is already working on future weapons utilizing this battery technology, including the development of the world’s most powerful warship radar capable of detecting missiles at a distance of over 4,500 km.
The new battery is expected to reduce the size and weight of current energy sources for weapons by two-thirds, representing a significant engineering breakthrough, according to the researchers.