September 03, 2025

Here’s the Military Hardware China Showed off at Xi's Parade

This article was originally published on Bloomberg.

China’s once-a-decade military parade marking the end of World War II showed off an array of new weapons — including, for the first time, large autonomous sea vehicles.

The messaging of the parade was largely outward-facing, with many of the systems labeled so their designations would be visible on camera. New, large-missile designs hinted at longer ranges and bigger payloads, while other systems promised a cheaper means of wiping out drone attacks.

China’s latest-generation submarine-launched ballistic missile, the JL-3, gives its nuclear undersea fleet the ability to hit distant targets — including the US — while launching from locations far from their home shores.

Autonomous weapons were showcased as well — including a dog-like robot riding on the back of a vehicle — demonstrating China’s progress in developing uncrewed systems in the air, on the ground and even underwater.

Read the full article on Bloomberg.

  • Video

    Defense

    What to Expect From U.S., Iran Talks Friday in Oman?

    Bloomberg's Becca Wasser & Wayne Sanders state they are not optimistic when discussing what they expect from the US and Iran when both countries speak Friday in Oman. They sug...

    By Becca Wasser

    • February 6, 2026
  • Commentary

    Defense

    Opposites Attract (and Execute)

    Introduction The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in recent months has signaled interest in bringing new entrants into the defense industrial base (DIB), including venture-bac...

    By Veronica Daigle & Grace Newsom

    • February 5, 2026
  • Podcast

    Defense

    Samuel Bendett on Drones and the Future of War

    CNAS senior adjunct fellow Samuel Bendett joined the Revolution in Military Affairs podcast to discuss how drones impact warfare and the future of war. Listen to the full inte...

    By Samuel Bendett

    • February 2, 2026
  • Commentary

    Defense

    The Ever-Changing, Unchanged Defense Acquisition System

    Introduction The defense acquisition system has been and continues to be in a period of great change, both in terms of the laws and processes that govern it and the private se...

    By Susanna V. Blume

    • January 22, 2026

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia