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.
More from CNAS
-
Commentary
Defense / Middle East Security
Iran, Israel, and the U.S. Are Racing the ClockThis article was originally published in Foreign Policy. At first glance, the Israeli-U.S. attack on Iran is an uneven fight. The United States and Israel have overwhelming ai...
By Franz-Stefan Gady
-
Eyes in the Sky
Reports
Executive Summary In the Department of Defense’s priority scenarios—a “defense by denial” of China and homeland defense—dedicated airborne sensing and battle management aircra...
By Philip Sheers
-
Video
Defense / Middle East Security
Key Questions, and an Expert Take, After U.S. Strikes IranWhat is the US trying to accomplish with continued, massive military strikes in Iran? The Center for a New American Security’s Stacie Pettyjohn joins host Aaron Mehta to dive ...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
-
How Congress Is Reacting to the Iran Conflict
Video
The US and Israel attacked Iran over the weekend, and Congress is scrambling to catch up. In this episode, Breaking Defense’s Aaron Mehta is joined by Stacie Pettyjohn of the ...
By Stacie Pettyjohn
