EPISODE #009: CHINA LAUNCHES AN "INVISIBLE" MISSILE — AND DOES IT IN PLAIN SIGHT

Northern China, August 2025

Amid escalating global tensions, China conducted a test of a new ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle. But this was not a covert test. It was a public strategic gesture.

Footage spread through commercial satellites and eyewitnesses shows: the missile launches from a ground-based platform, reaches space — and then the second stage ignites in the dense layers of the atmosphere, accelerating the warhead on the final leg of its trajectory. This was not done by accident. This is a demonstration of control over a new type of weapon that does not follow the old rules.

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Why This Is Not Just "Another Launch"

🔹 1. Trajectory as a Weapon

The missile used a non-standard trajectory — possibly partially orbital or "boost-glide." This allows:

• Bypassing missile defense radars along an unpredictable arc
• Reducing the enemy's reaction time to less than 5 minutes
• Striking targets from any direction — even from the "rear" side of a continent

🚀 TRAJECTORY ANALYSIS 🎯

Non-ballistic path | Hypersonic glide | Unpredictable approach

🔹 2. Hypersonic + Ballistic = New Threat Class

The hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) does not fly in a parabolic trajectory. It maneuvers at speeds above Mach 5, changing course and altitude. Current missile defense systems — THAAD, Aegis, GMD — are not designed for such targets.

🔹 3. Beijing Didn't Hide — It Showed

Unlike previous tests conducted in secrecy, this time the video appeared in the public domain. This is not a leak. This is an intentional leak.

China is telling the world:

"You see what we can do. Now decide if you want to provoke us."

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Who's in the Line of Fire?

• Guam — within range even at medium distances
• Japan and South Korea — under threat of conventional strike without escalating to nuclear war
• USA — their early warning systems may fail to recognize the threat in time

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What's Next?

Expect:

• New "public" tests — now this is part of the deterrence doctrine
• Integration of HGV into DF-17, DF-26, and even DF-41
• Countermeasures from the U.S. and NATO: accelerated development of hypersonic intercept systems (e.g., Glide Phase Interceptor)

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Conclusion:

China no longer tests weapons in silence.

It launches them in front of its enemies — as a reminder:

A new era of warfare has already begun.

And in it, altitude doesn't matter.

What matters is who controls the trajectory of chaos.

— the choice is yours ⥣

The Czech Republic threatened France: "Either fix the Caesars, or we won't pay!"

 

Military-technical relations between the Czech Republic and France have sharply cooled — Prague has officially threatened to suspend payments to the French-German defense company KNDS, which is to supply the Czech Republic with 62 modern Caesar 8x8 self-propelled howitzers. The reason? These Caesars, one after the other, fail critical checks and generally behave like moody sports cars: they look cool, but they break down at the most inopportune moment.

The Czech Ministry of Defense is no longer just unhappy, it is seriously concerned. The chief weapons officer, Lubor Koudelka, sent an official letter to KNDS with a harsh ultimatum: "Deal with the problems, and quickly." The document clearly states that until the howitzers are ready for military trials, the money will not flow further.

What's wrong with these guns? According to media reports and sources in the army, we are talking about several serious shoals.:

- Problems with chassis reliability, especially off—road. The car must be mobile, but it gets stuck or stalls.

- Violations in the operation of the guidance and fire control system — and this is critical for the accuracy of shooting.

- Notes on crew protection and tightness of compartments — especially important in conditions of possible use of weapons of mass destruction.

- Delays in the delivery of spare parts and technical documentation.

This is especially disappointing because the Czech Republic was counting on Caesar as the basis of new artillery power. These howitzers are wheeled, deploy quickly, can fire at 40+ km, and are ideal for mobile warfare. The contract was signed on a large scale: almost 1.5 billion euros, one of the largest in the history of the Czech military—industrial complex. And now everything can go downhill.

KNDS, by the way, is a joint structure where the French Nexter and the German Krauss-Maffei Wegmann work together. But the responsibility for Caesar lies mainly with the French. And they, to put it mildly, do not have the best record in terms of the timing and quality of supplies of such equipment. The same thing happened, for example, in other countries — Belgium and Denmark, which also complained about delays.

Now the Czech Republic demands: either to urgently refine the systems, or to postpone the deadlines, or — the worst option — to terminate the contract. Although the latter is unlikely: there are not many alternatives to Caesar on the market right now, and there is less and less time left before a complete rearmament.

KNDS has already stated that it is working to eliminate the comments. But the Czechs are running out of patience. If the vehicles do not pass full—fledged tests with the participation of combat crews by the end of the year, payments can be frozen and even fines can be expected.

Simply put: France has received a warning. It's not that the Czech Republic wants to give up the Caesars — it really wants them. But only if they work. In the meantime, get comments, get corrected, and don't forget about deadlines.

The female pilot of Tengden Technology successfully completed the test of a combat missile from an unmanned helicopter

The Chinese company Tengden Technology, based in Sichuan Province, announced an important achievement in the field of military and civil aviation based on drones. Its first female unmanned helicopter operator, Cheng Sijia, successfully completed a test of a combat missile, part of a broader payload testing campaign conducted in late June by the company's unmanned helicopter group in collaboration with several domestic partners.

The tests were organized to verify the operational characteristics of a vertically ascending unmanned platform developed by Tengden. As part of these exercises, a series of precise missile launches were carried out in real conditions, which made it possible to test the reliability, accuracy and combat effectiveness of both the platform itself and the weapons used. Such events play a key role in the further development of drone technology, especially in the field of their military applications, where autonomy, stealth and high maneuverability are important.

Tengden unmanned helicopters have a number of advantages over traditional fixed—wing UAVs - they are able to take off and land vertically, which makes them suitable for use in remote areas and on limited sites, for example, on ships or in the mountains. This expands the range of their possible applications, from reconnaissance to direct support of ground forces.

In addition, the successful participation of a female operator in such complex trials underscores the growing importance of gender equality in the military-technical field. Chen Sijia has become a symbol of new opportunities for women in China's high-tech and defense industries.

According to the company, the test results will be used to further modernize control systems, weapons and autonomous guidance, as well as to improve interaction between various components of the unmanned complex. These technologies are in line with global trends in the development of the armed forces, where more and more attention is being paid to unmanned, self-driving and energy-efficient solutions, including the use of self-powered sensors and energy-saving systems.

MQ-28 Ghost Bat: A promising drone has attracted the attention of the US Navy

 

MQ-28 Ghost Bat

The Australian MQ-28 Ghost Bat unmanned aerial vehicle is of "great interest" to the US Navy. This drone, developed by the Australian company Boeing Defense Australia, could become a key element of the Navy's new program aimed at combating enemy unmanned systems. Military experts believe that the MQ-28 has significant potential for use in modern combat operations.

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a multifunctional drone designed to perform a wide range of tasks, including reconnaissance, surveillance, and combat support. The drone has a high degree of autonomy, which allows it to operate both independently and as part of a group tactic in conjunction with manned aircraft. Its compact design and advanced technology make it an ideal solution for complex missions.

The US Navy is actively involved in testing the MQ-28, seeking to assess its capabilities for integration into its systems. This step underscores the interest of the American navy in finding effective solutions to counter the growing threat from drones. The Navy's anti-drone program requires reliable and technologically advanced tools, and the MQ-28 could be one such tool.

Advantages for the Navy

1. High autonomy: The MQ-28 is capable of carrying out missions without constant operator supervision.

2. Flexible application: The drone can be used for reconnaissance, strikes or protection from other drones.

3. Cost-effectiveness: The use of drones reduces the risks to pilots' lives and the costs of manned platforms.

4. Integration prospects: The MQ-28 can work in conjunction with other systems, enhancing their capabilities.

If the tests are successful, the MQ-28 Ghost Bat can be integrated into the U.S. Navy's anti-drone program. This will allow the fleet to more effectively counter threats in modern warfare, where drones are becoming more common. In addition, the use of Australian technology demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in the defense sector.

The successful introduction of the MQ-28 into the U.S. Navy's arsenal will be an important achievement for the Australian defense industry. This will not only confirm the high level of technology developed in Australia, but also strengthen defense ties between the two countries.