China’s 1,080-pound graphite bomb could cripple 2.5-acre power grid

China has developed a large-scale graphite bomb capable of disabling electrical power grids over an area of approximately 2.5 acres (10,000 square meters) almost instantaneously. The weapon, showcased in an animated video released by state broadcaster CCTV, features a 1,080-pound (490 kg) warhead that can be launched from land-based vehicles to strike targets up to 180 miles (290 km) away. Upon deployment, it disperses 90 submunitions containing chemically treated carbon filaments designed to short-circuit transformers, substations, and other critical grid components, causing a complete blackout without physical destruction. Though not officially named, the weapon aligns with known graphite bomb technology previously demonstrated by the US military, which disables electrical infrastructure through conductive filaments rather than explosions. Analysts suggest this system could be used to target Taiwan’s power grid in a future conflict, reflecting China’s broader strategic shift toward non-kinetic warfare aimed at crippling enemy command, control, communications, and intelligence