What new weapons exposed say on the military force of Beijing

China has unveiled a range of new weapons, drones and other military materials in a massive parade that many consider a clear message in the United States and its allies.

The event has seen that Xi Jinping welcomes more than 20 foreign heads of state, notably the Vladimir Putin of Russia and North Korea Kim Jong Un, who both count on China for economic support and more.

It was a demonstration of the growing power of XI on the world scene and military prowess of China – the show included the “Guam Killer” missile, the “Loyal Wingman” drone and even robotic wolves.

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What was clear from Wednesday’s display is that China was able to quickly produce a diverse range of weapons.

Ten years ago, the military technology they presented tended to be “rudimentary copies” of much more advanced equipment invented by the United States, notes Michael Raska, assistant professor in the program of military transformations at the Nanyang technology university in Singapore.

But this parade revealed a more innovative and diversified range of weapons, in particular drones and missiles – a reflection of the progression of their defense -industrial complex.

The descending structure of China and important resources allow it to produce new weapons faster than many other countries, stresses that Alexander Neill, an additional Pacific Forum scholarship holder.

He can also produce them in enormous quantities, which gives him an advantage in the battlefield where he can overwhelm the enemy.

“China has the capacity to produce ammunition, ships, all these platforms … The state can simply make these directives and they disappear,” explains Mr. Neill.

But to what extent can China soldiers integrate these weapons systems?

“They can show these flashy advanced platforms, but are they organizationally agile to use them as they wish?” Asks Dr. Raska.

He adds that it will not be easy because the Chinese army is massive and not tested, since it has not been involved in an important war for decades.

China has deployed many missiles, including new variants.

These include Dongfeng-61, which is capable of transporting several warheads in its Nosecon; Intercontinental DongFeng-5C intercontinental missile which could be launched from northern China and has struck the United States; And the intermediate missile “Guam Killer” Dongfeng-26D, which could strike the key American military bases in Guam.

There were also several hypersonic anti-navire missiles such as the YJ-17 and the YJ-19, which can fly very quickly and maneuver in an unpredictable manner to escape anti-missile systems.

There is a reason for this concentration on missiles.

China has developed missiles and rocket forces as a key element in its deterrent strategy – and to counter American naval superiority, says Mr. Neill.

The American navy is unrivaled in the world with the largest fleet of aircraft carriers and carriers of carriers – China is still late on this count.

But, underlines Mr. Neill, some in the Western Defense Community are supporting more and more that these strike groups are vulnerable because they are indeed “seated ducks” for any missile attack.

Beijing does not only strengthen deterrence, but also creates a “second strike capacity”, he says – the ability of a country to launch a reprisal strike if it is attacked.

Other notable weapons included the very speech on the LY-1 laser weapon, which is essentially a giant laser that could burn or deactivate electronics or even blind pilots; And an assortment of fifth generation stealth hunting planes, including J-20 and J-35 planes.

There was a wide range of drones, some of which were supplied by AI, but the one that caught the eyeballs was the giant underwater drone of the AJX-002.

Also known as an extra-worm-related underwater vehicle (XLUUV) measuring up to 20 m (65 feet), it could possibly do surveillance and recognition missions.

China has also shown its Stealth GJ-11 attack drone, nicknamed the “Loyal Wingman”, which can fly alongside a inhabited fighter and help it with its attacks.

In addition to a range of conventional air drones, there were also “robotic wolves”. Experts say that they could be used for a variety of tasks, recognition and sweeping for mines, to track down enemy soldiers.

Drone display shows a clear direction that China wants to take with its military strategy, where it “wants to increase not only, but replace traditional structures”.

He clearly took lessons from the Ukraine War, where we can “simply throw drones on the enemy” to carry their defenses, notes Dr. Raska.

“Alarcrity in the Kill Chain Matters”, adds Mr. Neill, emphasizing that in a quick battle, decisions must be made in “nanoseconds” to defeat the enemy and gain the upper hand – what AI can do.

Many countries are always concerned about the deployment of AI in their military systems and to ask “how comfortable we put AI in the killing chain,” he adds.

But China is very comfortable with it, says Dr. Raska. “They believe they can control AI. They go so far as to integrate it into their systems.”

The parade clearly shows that China quickly catches up with the United States to its military technology and has resources to build a huge arsenal of weapons.

But the United States still has an advantage in terms of operations, according to experts.

The American army “excels” because there is an ascending “culture” where the units on the ground can make decisions as the situation evolves and modifies their combat strategies, notes Dr. Raska. This makes them more agile in a battle.

China, on the other hand, is “from top to bottom” where “they can have platforms and flashy systems, but they will not move their finger until they receive an upper command,” he adds.

“The Chinese think that its technology which creates a deterrence. They believe that it will dissuade the United States … But at the operational level, there have been cases that show that they may not be as good as they say,” said Dr. Raska, pointing to recent meetings such as an incident last month when a Chinese warship struck one of his own smaller ships when they were confronted with the coastal day Philippins.

With leaders of more than two dozen countries invited to the event, the parade of weapons and tanks was essentially a giant sales argument on Chinese weapons to potential buyers, underlines Mr. Neill.

Some of the countries present such as Myanmar are already known to buy huge amounts of Chinese weapons. But the possibility of selling to new customers or increasing orders is how the Chinese government can extend its influence on a global scale, notes Dr. Raska.

Among the key customers were those standing in front and in the center with Xi – Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.

The three presented a united front as they headed for the parade together and stood on stage.

It was a message in the United States, Mr. Neill said: if America really wanted to challenge them, it would mean “to fight them in several potential theaters at the same time – the Korean peninsula, the Taiwan and Ukraine Strait”.

“And if you consider it, putting pressure on the United States on the three areas, it can fail in one of these theaters.”