China flexes arms muscle at parade

{ ARRAY OF NEW WEAPONS

- Bloomberg [e-mail]

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. Autonomous weapons were showcased as well — including a doglike 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. Below are some of the systems that stood out on the parade ground:

DF-5C

One notable addition to the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force parade display was the DF-5C, a variant of an intercontinental ballistic missile that entered service in the 1970s. The official Xinhua News Agency said it had “global strike range,” but it's unclear how that differs from the DF-5B, which already had intercontinental reach. It was displayed at the parade in several sections, and its large diameter hints at a hefty payload, additional countermeasures, or other features that would add weight.

DF-61