China’s National University of Defense Technology has unveiled the Tianhe-1A, currently the world’s fastest supercomputer, the Financial Times reported. The computer has a speed of 2.5 petaflops, breaking the previous record set by the Jaguar, a University of Tennessee computer completed last June. The claim made by Dawning Information Industry, which owns the Beijing-based supercomputer, was confirmed by US graphics chip maker Nvidia. Some analysts say the new record underscores China’s successful venture into the supercomputing industry, and may even raise cybersecurity concerns in the US and Europe about China’s capabilities. Others within China struck a more nationalistic tone. "Having the fastest supercomputer will give us a feeling of pride, it will be like winning gold medals at the Oylmpics, it will excite people," said Zhang Yunquan of the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
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