China on 24 August displayed a suite of new missile and air-defence hardware that expands the range and sophistication of its anti-access, area-denial strategy in the western Pacific. The headline system was the road-mobile DF-26D intermediate-range ballistic missile—nicknamed the “Guam Killer”—which can deliver either nuclear or conventional warheads up to 4,000 kilometres and is advertised as capable of striking aircraft-carrier groups at sea using terminal guidance. Beijing also unveiled the YJ-18C stealth anti-ship cruise missile, a low-flying variant of the supersonic YJ-18 family designed to evade detection in its sub-sonic profile. Complementing the offensive systems, the People’s Liberation Army paraded the HQ-29, a mobile exo-atmospheric interceptor said to target ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and potentially satellites. A new FK-3000 platform aimed at countering drones rounded out the air-defence exhibits, underscoring China’s efforts to protect its forces while denying adversaries access to regional sea lanes. Separately, India announced the maiden flight of its first indigenous, artificial-intelligence-enabled combat drone, Kaala Bhairav. The platform can remain aloft for 30 hours, cover 3,000 kilometres and deploy swarm munitions, adding a new element to New Delhi’s growing unmanned arsenal.