China's V-Day parade on September 3 came as a shock to many die-hard military fans, as a streak of new, sci-fi-looking weapons were on display with almost no details provided. CGTN's "China's New Sword" is a series of reports that explain these weapons using publicly available information that has not yet been thoroughly introduced to the English-language internet.

China unveiled a suite of unmanned weapons during its V-Day parade in Beijing on Wednesday, showcasing advanced technology for land, sea and air. The display suggests a future of warfare where soldiers may no longer be needed on the front lines.

On the ground, the parade featured unmanned vehicles designed for reconnaissance, assault, mine laying and troop support. These vehicles can be remote-controlled or operate autonomously, and they can even work together in coordinated groups.

"The reconnaissance-and-strike unmanned vehicle is built on a continuous track chassis, allowing it to adapt to diverse environments," said Zhu Wenjin, a military officer in the parade's unmanned combat groups, in one of several interviews CMG conducted with participants and experts. "Equipped with anti-tank missiles and reconnaissance modules, it can perform close-in surveillance and precision attacks, providing coordinated support for tanks and infantry."

In the water, China has developed a variety of unmanned underwater vehicles, boats and mine-laying systems. 

"Our new anti-mine vessels can autonomously detect underwater threats and eliminate them precisely, reducing the risks faced by soldiers," said Xu Kewang, a military officer in the parade's ground unmanned vehicle team.

Another officer of the team, Tan Xiuchun, added: "Compared with conventional submarines, unmanned underwater vehicles are cheaper to build and maintain while offering impressive reconnaissance and strike capabilities."

The aerial display was equally impressive, featuring 10 different types of unmanned aircraft.

"The lineup included stealth attack drones, reconnaissance-and-strike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and 'wingman' drones designed to operate alongside manned fighter jets," said Wei Dongxu, special commentator for CMG. "These UAVs now feature stronger battlefield awareness, greater autonomy and advanced data-sharing capabilities."

Wei also noted that carrier-based UAVs can conduct reconnaissance and carry munitions, enabling ships like the Sichuan to function not only as an amphibious assault platform or helicopter carrier, but also as a UAV carrier capable of long-range strikes against land and sea targets.

Beam them down: Laser-powered anti-drone defense

As unmanned technology becomes more widespread, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is focusing on defending against it. The parade featured a new "iron triangle" of anti-UAV systems, including a missile-gun integrated system, high-energy laser weapons and high-power microwave weapons.

"The high-energy laser weapon destroys targets by firing a concentrated beam of light," said Li Chao, a military officer of the parade's anti-UAV group. "It is silent, has no visible fire or recoil, strikes instantly, and has virtually unlimited ammunition."

Lyu Wei, another officer of the anti-UAV group, explained that the missile-gun integrated system combines fast reaction time, high firepower, precision shooting and strong mobility. It can operate independently or be networked with a larger defense system.

"The microwave weapons are capable of neutralizing individual drones or entire swarms over a wide area," said Song Boxuan, also an officer of the group.

(Gong Zhe contributed to this story. Cover: Unmanned weapons are displayed during China's V-Day parade, September 3, 2025. /VCG)