Cheaper than advanced air defenses and more versatile than low-tech options, lasers have become a popular choice for nations worried about drone attacks.

© Tsafrir Abayov/Associated Press

At its military parade on Wednesday, China showcased hypersonic missiles to sink ships, drones that serve as wingmen and nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that can strike the continental United States.

The United States has accused Russia of violating the pact, which expired in 2019, for more than a decade.