China showcased its military power during the parade held on the 3rd, commemorating the '80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese War and World Anti-Fascist War.' The event featured new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) capable of striking the U.S. mainland and unmanned aerial, land, and naval forces believed to include artificial intelligence (AI).
The parade began at 9 a.m. (10 a.m. Korean time) as President Xi Jinping inspected the troops lined up in a 3-kilometer formation at Chang'an Avenue in Beijing from a vehicle. Following the inspection, the division ceremony commenced, starting with a helicopter squadron, showcasing a large array of China's ground weapons. Behind the leading Chinese main battle tanks were surface-to-air (rent(expense) to air) missiles and the LY-1, which intercepts missiles with lasers.
Next, China's proud YJ-series anti-ship missiles emerged, including the YJ-15, YJ-19, and YJ-20. The YJ-20 is assessed as a hypersonic missile capable of evading missile defense systems. Additionally, high-altitude missile defense systems, such as the Hongqi (红旗·HQ)-29 and HQ-9C, were also showcased, with the HQ-29 believed to be capable of intercepting satellites.
Following this, future forces made a significant appearance. The AJX-002 unmanned surface vessel also revealed its presence behind unmanned surface crafts. It is believed to potentially carry conventional and nuclear warheads. Ground unmanned systems were also introduced, including ZRY222 unmanned combat vehicles and robotic dogs used for reconnaissance. Among the aerial forces of the unmanned fleet, an advanced stealth drone presumed to be the Feihong (FH)-97 was also spotted.
A military expert noted, 'China showcased its intention to operate both manned and unmanned fleets in future land, sea, and air operations.'
The Changjian (长剑·CJ)-1000 cruise missile was also revealed for the first time on this day. China has been operating the CJ-10 missile for a long time, which is said to have a flight range of about 1,500 kilometers, and it is analyzed that its performance has likely improved.
Along with the cruise missile, the Dongfeng (东风·DF)-17, capable of striking the U.S. mainland, and the air-launched hypersonic missile YJ-21 appeared. The DF-17 is assessed to have the capability to neutralize the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in South Korea.
The highlight of the division ceremony was the ICBM. The new ICBM, the DF-61, was unveiled on this day. It is believed to be an upgraded version of the DF-41, which was first revealed during the 2019 parade. The DF-41 has a range of up to 14,000 kilometers, enabling it to hit almost all targets on Earth, including Washington, D.C. The DF-5C, in a form where the warhead and launch vehicle are separated, was also disclosed. The DF-5C is assumed to be an improved version of the DF-5B, utilizing liquid fuel.
Subsequently, the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Julang (巨浪·JL)-1 and the next-generation SLBM suspected to be the JL-3 were revealed. Bloomberg reported, 'China possesses nuclear missiles launched from ground, sea, and air platforms.'
Following that, China's aerial fleet made an appearance. Early warning aircraft KJ-500 was followed by the H-6 bomber flying over Beijing. This model is known to have been indigenized by China from Soviet jet bombers. China is developing the H-20 bomber to compete with the U.S. B-2 strategic bomber, although it is presumed to not yet be at the flight stage. The ceremony concluded with a flight of China's 5th generation stealth fighter, the J-35, alongside the J-10, which is currently being operated as a mainstay.