Tank and artillery, unmanned ship and underwater vehicles, high-energy weapons, hypersonic missiles shine at parade
Global Times
By Liu Xuanzun, Fan Wei and Liang Rui Published: Sep 03, 2025 10:48 PM
Editor's Note:
China on Wednesday held a grand V-Day military parade to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, with many advanced weapons and equipment making their debut, including China's new-generation tank with a whole new design concept, several types of hypersonic anti-ship missiles, air superiority drones, as well as the country's nuclear triad, which includes air-launched, submarine-launched and land-based strategic missiles.
The debut of many of these weapons and equipment came as surprises that went beyond the expectations of military enthusiasts.
Experts said that the military parade, unveiling new and advanced military tools, demonstrated the capabilities of the Chinese defense industry and the Chinese armed forces. At a time to remember history and cherish peace, these vital military assets and the Chinese troops that wield them will also defend the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and development interests, and safeguard peace and stability in the world.
LY-1 shipborne laser weapon included in full system of shipborne air defense weapons
Forming a full system, four types of shipborne air defense weapons were displayed at the parade, including the HHQ-9C, the HQ-16C, a close-range air defense system and the LY-1 shipborne laser weapon. They form a multi-dimensional air defense system that covers close and far ranges. The shipborne laser weapon, which made its public debut, has outstanding advantages of precise destruction and continuous strike. It can intercept not only attacks from unmanned equipment, but also anti-ship missiles, with very low cost for each interception, said military affairs expert Zhang Xuefeng.
Two variants of Type 191 modularized rocket artillery can launch guided rockets of different calibers
The modularized rocket artillery system is introduced as a core equipment of the PLA Army's long-range fire strike missions.
This type of equipment adopts modularized launch technology, which is multi-functional and versatile, compatible with launching guided rockets of different calibers. It has the advantages of long range and high accuracy, and can carry out precise strikes on targets. It also has a wide variety of ammunition types, has digital fire control, rapid firepower response, strong off-road capability, and can flexibly respond to various combat environments, said military affairs expert Wang Yunfei. He said that the Type 191 has the potential to achieve the strike effect of ballistic missiles at the cost of rockets thanks to the application of domestic integrated guidance systems in the long-range rocket artillery.
Unmanned ship, underwater vehicle, minelaying system make debut
In the maritime unmanned combat formations, new-type unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), unmanned ship, and unmanned mine-laying system were inspected for the first time. These unmanned maritime combat systems possess capabilities such as covert deployment for blockade operations, autonomous detection and identification, and swarm networking for coordinated attacks, making them formidable assets in naval warfare. Military affairs expert Zhang Junshe said they have highly intelligent and information-based features, and their commissioning is expected to revolutionize maritime combat patterns and provide new assistance for safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as achieving national reunification.
Type 100 tank, Type 100 support vehicle boast high degree of intelligence and strong collaborative ability
They are of a new generation of armored equipment, and have strong combat capabilities in capturing positions with high mobility and breaking through challenging defenses. Military affairs expert Fu Qianshao said they have stronger firepower, stronger protection, and higher levels of informatization and intelligence, and their design concepts are similar to those of the Type 055 destroyer at sea and the J-20 fighter jet in the air. According to Fu, the Type 100 tank and support vehicle added active protection systems in addition to passive defense elements, a boost to survival capability.
Microwave against drones
A type of anti-drone high-power microwave weapon is reviewed at the parade.
The working principle of high-power microwave weapons is to directedly release high-energy electromagnetic radiation to destroy the electronic components inside drones, causing them to fail or burn out, thereby achieving the goal of eliminating the threat of drones.
"The beam of high-power microwave weapons is wider than the pinpoint strike of high-energy laser weapons. It can cover a whole surface. When facing the attack of multiple targets such as a drone swarm, it can take advantage of the wider beam and higher energy to effectively destroy multiple targets," said expert Zhang Xuefeng.
UUVs function as unmanned submarine
A new-type of unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) appeared at the parade for the first time. Military affairs expert Zhang Junshe said that UUVs effectively function as unmanned submarines, yet they offer lower production costs compared to submarines, they reduce the risk of combat personnel casualties, and enable mass deployment.
Against adversaries relying on submarine-based maritime operations, deploying the UUV along critical shipping lanes enables routine reconnaissance during peacetime and can guide anti-submarine attack during conflict. Possessing such a type of UUV can also facilitate blockade of vital maritime corridors, and leveraging advanced communication technology. It can also coordinate with other unmanned combat groups to carry out long-range strikes, Zhang added.
YJ-17, YJ-19, YJ-20 hypersonic missiles demonstrate China's rich technological paths
Four new types of YJ series anti-ship missiles were displayed for the first time, three of which are hypersonic missiles, namely the J-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20. They can be carried by multiple platforms such as shipborne aircraft, surface vessels and submarines. With long range, fast speed and highly destructive power, they are top weapons against enemies from the sea.
The YJ-17 anti-ship missile has a flat warhead and adopts a boost-glide waverider configuration, possessing hypersonic characteristics. The new YJ-19 also adopts a waverider configuration, but it has an air inlet under the missile body, marking the characteristics of an air-breathing hypersonic weapon. The new YJ-20 anti-ship missile, on the other hand, adopts a bi-conic configuration, which will likely be launched from larger warships, said military expert Wang Yunfei.
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