New Delhi: All eyes were on Beijing’s Victory Day parade Wednesday as China introduced to the world some of its most advanced weaponry, turning the commemoration of its war with Japan into a display of its military modernisation. The HQ-20 air defence system, stealth “loyal wingman” drones, new intercontinental ballistic missiles and electronic warfare systems headlined the display.
The Victory Parade marks 80 years since China’s victory against Japan in WWII.
The parade was presided over by President Xi Jinping with Russian President Vladimir Putin, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and over two dozen other foreign leaders in attendance.
Beyond the marching troops and familiar armour, the spotlight was firmly on the People’s Liberation Army’s newest capabilities.
Debut air defence system
Making its first appearance at the parade, the HQ-20 air defence system drew attention with its eight-wheel transporter-erector launcher, capable of carrying at least eight interceptors.
The system superficially shares design features with the HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile (LRSAM) but uses smaller missiles, indicating a focus on high mobility and rapid-response air defence.
Another newcomer was the HQ-9C, an upgraded variant of the HQ-9B LRSAM. The HQ-9C is believed to provide enhanced guidance and interception capabilities compared to earlier models.
During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Air Force neutralised, using Harpy and Harop loitering munitions, several Chinese-supplied HQ-9B long-range and HQ-16 medium-range air-defence systems operated by Pakistan.
The parade also featured the HQ-29, a high-altitude interceptor designed to counter ballistic missiles in their midcourse phase beyond the atmosphere, as well as low-Earth-orbit satellites. Its design is said to be based on the U.S. Navy’s SM-3 interceptor.
Into space & electronic warfare
The parade also included network support and cyber units as marching contingents, indicating that China’s military modernisation is not limited to conventional systems such as ships, fighters, tanks or missiles but extends fully into the realms of space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum, domains increasingly seen as decisive in contemporary conflict.
The HQ-29 was among the most eye-catching. These were paraded alongside electronic jamming vehicles, mobile radar units and cyber warfare brigades, presented collectively as part of an all-weather defence shield.
Loyal wingmen & UUVs
One of the most eye-catching exhibits was the FH-97 “loyal wingman” drone, developed by Aerospace Times Feihong under China’s Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The stealth UAV, with a wingspan of six metre and length of 10 metre, is intended to accompany stealth fighters such as the J-20 and J-35. It is designed for missions ranging from electronic warfare and reconnaissance to precision strikes, with internal bays that can carry munitions or sensors.
Furthermore, reports indicate the drone can operate in swarms or act as a decoy, overwhelming enemy air defences. It has been compared to Australia’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat and the U.S. Air Force’s Skyborg project, placing China at the forefront of efforts to field a combat-ready “loyal wingman”.
Deng Shuai, the loyal wingman’s designer, told State-run Global Times that the drone “acts as both a sensor and an ammunition depot, as well as an intelligent assistant for pilots”. He said it had earned the “loyal wingman” moniker because it flew alongside crewed aircraft “like an armed bodyguard”.
Further, at ground level, the parade drew attention to two enormous unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), one of which was identified as the AJX002. Shaped like an oversized torpedo, the extra-large UUV was carried on a heavy-duty trailer through Tiananmen Square.
Reports indicate that it is intended for roles including long-range surveillance, undersea cable tapping, mine-laying or even offensive strike missions. It has also been compared for its resemblance to the U.S. Navy’s Orca XLUUV and Russia’s Poseidon nuclear-powered UUV.
Beijing also used the occasion to put spotlight on its progress in directed-energy weapons (DEWs). Trucks fitted with high-energy lasers and high-power microwave emitters rolled through Tiananmen Square, alongside kinetic anti-drone launchers, in what the State media described as a “triad” of counter-drone systems.
These platforms work together to track, disable and destroy hostile UAVs and even intercept incoming missiles, a signal that the PLA is investing in rapid-response, low-cost defences against the growing threat of swarming drones.
Complementing these systems were the ship-launched unmanned helicopters and loitering munitions, showing that autonomous platforms are being incorporated across land, sea and air domains.
Missile systems & nuclear triad
Missiles formed the backbone of the parade, with Beijing giving particular prominence to its nuclear deterrent. For the first time, China displayed all three legs of its nuclear triad together—air-, sea- and land-based systems.
Central to this was the Jinglei-1, the PLA’s first air-launched nuclear missile, shown atop a military truck. Smaller in size than its Julang-3 (JL-3) submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile (SLBM), the Jinglei-1 marked the country’s first visible airborne nuclear strike capability.
State broadcaster CCTV described the Jinglei-1, the JL-3 and land-based missiles including the DF-61 and DF-31 as the “first concentrated display” of China’s “land, sea and air triad strategic nuclear forces”, describing it as a “strategic ace for safeguarding national sovereignty and defending national dignity.”
Among the land-based systems, the DF-61 was presented as China’s most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) after the DF-41, which already boasts a range of around 14,000 kilometres.
Road-mobile missiles such as the DF-61 and DF-31BJ were paraded alongside the DF-5C, a silo-launched intercontinental ballistic missile which reportedly has a range of 20,000 km and is capable of carrying up to 10 multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs), allowing a single missile to strike multiple targets simultaneously.
With a reported range exceeding 13,000 kilometres, the DF-5C is capable of reaching targets across the continental United States and Western Europe, with each of its warheads able to engage separate locations.
The JL-3 Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM), developed for China’s next-generation ballistic missile submarines, was also prominently displayed. Alongside this, the air-launched Jinglei-1 also marked a rare public presentation of China’s full nuclear triad, encompassing land-, sea- and air-based strategic capabilities.
The parade also displayed Beijing’s hypersonic missile arsenal.
The DF-17, reported to be equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle, made a repeat appearance while being accompanied by the DF-26D, a new variant of the medium-range ‘Guam killer’ missile, which, according to State media reports, can perform hypersonic manoeuvres to target aircraft carriers and regional bases across the Pacific, particularly the US’s Guam Air Force Base.
On the conventional side, the PLA showcased a range of Yingji anti-ship cruise missiles, including the YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20, all deployed on mobile launchers.
The YJ-21, an air-launched hypersonic missile reported to have been previously tested against mock-ups of U.S. aircraft carriers, was also displayed.
According to South China Morning Post, military commentator Wei Dongxu explained that the missile could be launched from aircraft “outside enemy air defence zones, penetrate interceptors and destroy targets before quickly returning to base.”
Conventional hardware & aerial capabilities
Traditional military hardware also had a notable presence at the parade with columns of modernised tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and artillery units rolling past Tiananmen Square, some reportedly equipped with AI-assisted targeting systems.
The Type 99B main battle tank also made a debut at the parade. It’s believed to be the upgraded variant of China’s third-generation tanks, the Type 99 series.
Helicopters fly past during military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. AP/PTI
The 99A version which is reported to weigh 55 tonnes, uses 125mm-calibre guns and has active protection systems, including a defensive laser to target both ground vehicles and helicopters. State-run media reports that the tank is extensively deployed for military exercises in high-altitude terrain particularly the Tibetan plateau near the Line of Actual Control.
China also took the opportunity to showcase its PHL-16, truck-mounted self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, developed by ground-based weapons manufacturer Norinco. The PHL-16 is reported to measure around 12 metres (39 feet) long, three metres wide and three metres high and has eight barrels for ammunition and is operated by three crew members.
The aerial fly-pasts showcased Beijing’s carrier-based and stealth fighters, including the J-15, alongside the J-20 and J-35 stealth aircraft, as well as the new twin-seater J-20 variant.
Upgraded bombers, such as the H-6 series including the new H-6J, were also on display. The H-6J is reported to be a naval variant derived from the PLAF’s H-6K. The bomber is reported to be armed with supersonic YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles.
Also making its parade debut was the KJ-600, China’s first carrier-based AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft, specifically designed for the PLAN’s Type 003 Fujian aircraft carrier.
Featuring a quad-tail configuration and a dorsal radar dome reminiscent of the US Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye, the KJ-600 is intended to provide carrier groups with long-range situational awareness up to 1,200 km.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Operation Sindoor model will not work in future wars. India must not delay theaterisation