“The military hardware on display at the Beijing parade on Wednesday was all made in China and in operational service, said Chinese Maj. Gen. Wu Zeke, much of it shown in public for the first time. Here is a guide to some highlights.
Troops
The procession opened with more than 10,000 forces on the march. China has the world's largest active army, estimated at about two million personnel, though its battlefield ability has yet to be tested. Formations on parade included troops from China's Cyberspace Force and Aerospace Force.
Missiles
China, a leader in hypersonic missile technology, showed off new arrivals from its Yingji series, which state media describe as a "strategic hammer" for defending maritime interests. Hypersonic weapons can travel at extreme speed to better evade most air defenses.
DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile
China displayed this new variant of the liquid-fueled, two-stage ICBM that has been a mainstay of China's nuclear deterrent. The DF-5C has global range, state television said, meaning it can strike targets anywhere in the world.
Aerial drones
The parade called attention to China's technological upgrades with a formation of unmanned aerial vehicles, including what state commentators described as the "wingman" drone, which is meant to fly alongside manned warplanes and offer autonomous combat support.
The CH-9 long-endurance drone is among the newest in China's Caihong series, capable of conducting reconnaissance, surveillance and precision-attack missions. The CH-9 can operate at altitudes of up to about 36,000 feet and stay aloft for 40 hours, state media have reported.
Aircraft
Jet fighters, bombers and helicopters flying in formation added to the military spectacle. Among them was the J-35A stealth fighter, a multipurpose stealth jet that some analysts have compared to the U.S. F-35, with air-to-air and surface-attack capabilities. Chinese experts say the 'A' designation refers to the land-based model, with a naval variant set to follow.
Variants of China's mainstay naval jet fighter, the J-15, include domestically developed electronic-warfare aircraft, and T-models that can be launched off aircraft carriers via catapults. China's latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, is the first Chinese carrier to feature a catapult-launch system, and has been undergoing sea trials with J-15Ts.
New high-power laser and microwave weapons, paraded together on Wednesday, are designed to intercept targets such as drones and cruise missiles. State television described them, together with air-defense artillery systems, as a powerful "iron triangle."
Maritime force
China's navy has steadily expanded its power and range, with the world's largest naval fleet of ships and submarines -- and has made some high-tech enhancements.
The LY-1 was described by state broadcasters as a "shipborne laser weapon" meant for naval air defense, capable of mounting precise and continuous attacks on targets. It is meant to complement other air-defense armaments such as surface-to-air missiles.
China also has new unmanned underwater vehicles that can conduct submarine warfare and lay mines. These new drones, state media said, can autonomously detect and identify targets, and be deployed covertly to conduct blockades.” [1]
1. World News: New Weapons Rolled Out. Chun Han Wong. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y.. 04 Sep 2025: A7.
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