Recent developments at Shanghai’s Hudong-Zhonghua shipyard have revealed that China is advancing its military capabilities with a mobile electromagnetic catapult system designed for drone launches. This modular system, capable of deploying low-observable combat drones weighing up to 2 tons, enhances the People’s Liberation Army’s airpower projection in contested areas, particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India and in the Pacific. The technology allows for rapid drone deployment without the need for fixed infrastructure, significantly increasing sortie rates and survivability. This innovation underscores China’s strategic shift towards unmanned aerial superiority amid rising tensions with New Delhi, presenting new challenges for India’s air defense systems in high-altitude and remote regions.