China has quietly activated its new Tianhe-3 supercomputer, believed to be the most powerful system in existence today. The massive machine, shrouded in secrecy and built for the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou, represents a major leap in computing power that some experts say could surpass even the upcoming “El Capitan” system being developed by HPE and AMD.

While details remain scarce, analysis suggests Tianhe-3 may achieve an astonishing 2 exaflops (that’s 2 quintillion calculations per second) processing speed. Its custom-designed hybrid CPU-GPU processors give it unrivaled performance for high-performance computing, AI, big data and other cutting-edge applications. Tianhe-3 will support advanced research and technology development across a wide range of fields in Guangzhou and Guangdong Province.

With its launch, China cements its position at the absolute forefront of supercomputing technology globally. But Tianhe-3 may also serve more strategic national interests. With computing power tightly linked to economic and military supremacy, China’s new ‘secret weapon’ could dramatically shift the global balance of power in its favor.

Tianhe-3 promises to boost China’s capabilities in areas like weapons design, cryptography, intelligence gathering, surveillance systems, weather modeling, biological research, oil exploration, financial analysis, aircraft design, and more. The applications are vast, and the advantages over other nations are potentially significant.

That poses concerning questions for China’s global rivals, who are still racing to catch up in the supercomputer arms race. Tianhe-3 is not just about technological superiority; it very likely serves China’s plans for strategic dominance on multiple fronts. Its computing power could propel major advances in both China’s military as well as key strategic industrial and economic goals.

While details on Tianhe-3’s specific processors remain unknown, it utilizes a custom-designed hybrid architecture that outperforms even Nvidia’s top supercomputing GPUs. And China reportedly has plans to produce even more powerful exascale supercomputers in the near future. With the launch of Tianhe-3, China has made it clear that no nation can match its firepower in advanced computing. Its rivals are now on notice to fast-track their own next-gen supercomputers or risk falling dangerously behind.