The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

China's technological advances are periodically in the news. But what we must take note of is their applications in the military field and how these affect the battlefield and new age conventional and hybrid warfare.

China has developed a nuclear battery that can last 50 years without charging, as reported in 2024. Chinese startup Betavolt's BV100 battery is smaller than a coin and contains a radioactive isotope of nickel that decays into copper and supplies power to a device for up to 50 years. The news report further said that Betavolt aims to manufacture a 1-watt power battery by 2025. The company intends to mass produce theses batteries and envisions a future where perpetual power sustains mobile phones without charging and enables drones to fly endlessly. Betavolt issues an official statement saying, "Our atomic energy batteries can provide enduring power in diverse scenarios, such as aerospace, AI equipment, medical devices, microprocessors, advanced sensors, small drones, and micro-robots." The company anticipates this energy breakthrough will position China competitively in the emerging era of AI technology.

China has developed a nuclear battery that can last 50 years without charging

The Betavolt battery can reportedly operate in temperatures ranging from minus60 degrees Celsius to 120 degrees Celsius. Betavolt claims that their layered structure prevents the battery from catching fire or exploding when subjected to sudden force and that there is no reason to fear nuclear radiation because after the decay period, the 63 isotopes transform into a stable, non-radioactive isotope of copper, posing no environmental threat or pollution. According to the company, use of the battery in medical devices inside the human body, like pacemakers and cochlear implants are safe.

As already reported in these columns earlier, China has ordered one million AI-enabled loitering munitions for military use by 2026. These batteries would give these drones unlimited flying life. Also, this breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionise electronics by eliminating the need for chargers or portable power banks. However, taking into account how China operates, there is every possibility that China could embed hidden trapdoors and switches in these devices, causing them to explode when Beijing wants; same way as Israel exploded electronic devices in Lebanon. Similarly, the Chinese claim that there would be no external radiation needs to be taken with a pinch of salt in the case of loitering munitions deployed on foreign soil.

China has ordered one million AI-enabled loitering munitions for military use by 2026

According to the media reports of March 26, 2025, China's Ship Scientific Research Centre has developed a deep-sea weapon, an undersea cable cutter with the ability to cut steel and armoured cables at a depth of 4,000 meters depth in the sea. Internet and communications system around the world run through these cables. If China decides to cut these cables, it can affect not only Taiwan but the whole world. Recently, some undersea cables of Taiwan were damaged, after which the concern about this new technology has increased further. Experts opine that such a capability can redefine geopolitics, not only to enhance China's security but also to increase its global heft and intimidate its opponents. This also has relevance for India, given the increased Chinese activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Notably, this undersea cable cutter can be mounted on a cheap submersible and is controlled by a robotic arm. Notably, China could even deploy this weapon from its civilian/fishing vessels.

Concurrent to the above, China has developed massive landing barges with the ability to quickly land heavy military equipment and tanks on the coast. With these landing barges, China will have the ability to rapidly land heavy military equipment and tanks on the coast during an attack on Taiwan. Experts believe that if China attacks Taiwan, the use of these barges will play an important role strategically. These barges can extend up to 800 meters inside the sea and stand on strong steel legs. These barges were seen on the Zhanjiang coast of the South China Sea. According to US analysts, these barges strengthen China's amphibious warfare capabilities, giving China the ability to land military vehicles and tanks on any sea coast, even if there is no permanent port there.

China's Ship Scientific Research Centre has developed a deep-sea weapon, an undersea cable cutter with the ability to cut steel and armoured cables at a depth of 4,000 meters depth in the sea

While US President Donald Trump recently asked Boeing to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet (F-47), China's sixth generation heavyweight fighter jet (J-36) has already completed its fourth test flight, as observed on March 26, 2025, with its unique three engine tailless design. The J-36 is expected to be the largest in the world, allowing for carriage of a significantly larger radar and greater weapons payload than existing fighters, as well as a higher endurance. Its combat radius is speculated to exceed 3,500 km using internal fuel, compared to 2,000 km for the J-20 fifth-generation fighter, and approximately 1,000 km for the American F-22 and F-35 fighters.

CHINESE J-20 FIFTH-GENERATION FIGHTER

Notably, the US Congress has warned that China is outpacing the US in maritime and naval shipbuilding, prompting President Trump to launch a new shipbuilding initiative. China's merchant fleet, with more than 5,500 vessels, outnumbers the US merchant marine, which includes 80-179 privately owned US-flagged ships. Also, the PLA Navy (PLAN) has 495 ships, including 234 warships, whereas, the US Navy operates 296 manned battle force ships, including combat logistics and support vessels, but only 219 are classified as warships. In 2023, US shipyards produced around 64,809 gross tonnes of merchant ships, representing 0.1 per cent of the global output of 64,774,769 gross tonnes. In 2024, a single Chinese shipbuilder produced more tonnage than the entire US shipbuilding industry since World War II. Many US allies, including France, Japan, and South Korea, continue to make purchases from China's state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC).

In 2024, a single Chinese shipbuilder produced more tonnage than the entire US shipbuilding industry since World War II

We also need to take note that how intensely Chinese startups are involved in technologies of dual civil-military use, like electric vehicles (EV) and battery technology, dominating global EV production with companies like BYD, semiconductors and AI – investing heavily in self-reliance, building chips and AI models for the future; robotics and automation -creating next-generation factories that produce more efficiently; global logistics and trade -building supply chain like Shein, DJI and Alibaba dominating global commerce; deep technology and infrastructure – investing in space technology, high-speed rail, and renewable energy.