In this explosive episode of the Silk and Steel Podcast, host Carl Zha is joined by returning expert TP Huang to break down the stunning array of new weapons systems China recently unveiled. From hypersonic missiles that can be launched from submarines to J-20-sized stealth fighter drones, the parade showcased technologies that are years, if not decades, ahead of what other nations are developing.
TP Huang, a seasoned analyst with over 20 years of experience studying the Chinese military, provides an unparalleled deep dive into what these systems mean for the global balance of power. We move beyond the headlines to understand the real-world implications of these advancements.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction
01:30 – TP Huang’s Background & Expertise
04:45 – The Missile Overview: A New Family of Hypersonic Threats
06:50 – YJ-19: The Submarine-Launched Game-Changer
10:30 – Naval Hypersonics: How Destroyers & Carriers Get Strike Power
15:10 – Defining “Hypersonic” vs. Ballistic Missiles
20:45 – The “Guam Killer” DF-26 & DF-27: Pushing the US Back
29:15 – US Strategy Impact: Is the Pentagon Recalculating?
32:00 – The Drone Revolution: China’s “Loyal Wingman” & Stealth Fighters
38:00 – Large Combat Drones: Supersonic, Tailless, and Beyond J-20
45:10 – How Drones Change Aerial Combat Doctrine
50:25 – Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs): The Submarine Drone Fleet
55:40 – Ground Forces: New Tanks & Lessons from Ukraine
01:00:30 – Directed Energy: Laser & Microwave Weapons in Service
01:05:15 – The Engineering Edge: Why China’s Tech is Advancing So Fast
01:10:45 – Electronic Warfare & AWACS: The “Invisible” Force Multipliers
01:15:20 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find TP Huang
Key Systems Discussed:
Missiles: YJ-21, YJ-19 (sub-launched), CJ-1000, DF-17, DF-26, DF-27
Aircraft: J-20, J-35, J-16D (EW), KJ-600 (AWACS)
Drones: GJ-11, Large stealth fighter drones, “Loyal Wingman” drones, Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)
Ground/Naval: Type 100 Tank, Laser Defense Systems, Microwave Weapons
Follow TP Huang:
On X (Twitter): @TPHuang
On Substack: TPHuang’s Newsletter
#China #MilitaryTechnology #HypersonicMissile #Drone #UAV #PLA #Defense #Geopolitics #USChina