Abstract The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a military parade in Beijing on 3 September 2025, unveiling an array of previously undisclosed manned and unmanned aerial platforms that underscore a deliberate acceleration in air combat capabilities. This display, featuring operational fifth-generation fighters, carrier-compatible stealth … Leggi tutto China’s Accelerated Air Combat Modernization: Revelations from the September 2025 Victory Day Parade and Implications for Regional Power Projection