The year 2025 marked a pivotal moment in global strategic affairs as China unveiled an unprecedented array of military hardware during its Victory Day parade. Commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan’s defeat in the Second World War, this monumental event transcended mere historical remembrance. It transformed into a potent declaration of China’s rapidly ascending military prowess and its vision for a reconfigured world order, signalling its intent to back aspirations with high-tech arms that often appear ahead of its rivals.
Presided over by President Xi Jinping and flanked by leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, the parade was a deliberate and fearsome display. It showcased a comprehensive range of new weapons for the first time, including hypersonic missiles, a new generation of nuclear triad, and advanced anti-drone systems. This grand spectacle sent a broad message of deterrence to the United States and its allies, as well as to regional powers, prompting a re-evaluation of global security dynamics.
In this in-depth analysis, we delve into some of the most striking revelations from China’s 2025 military parade. We will examine the cutting-edge capabilities of its newly unveiled weapons systems: anti-ship hypersonic missiles, extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles, the expansion of its nuclear triad, advanced space defence technologies, revolutionary directed energy weapons, and the emergence of autonomous ground combat robots. Each represents a significant leap, challenging existing doctrines and demanding a re-evaluation of global defence strategies.
1. **Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missiles (YJ Series)**The parade offered a stark warning to naval powers, particularly the US Navy, with the display of new generation hypersonic anti-ship missiles. China showcased the YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 hypersonic missiles, drawing considerable attention to their potential to redefine maritime warfare. These “Ying Ji” or “eagle attack” missiles are designed for launch from ships or aircraft, engineered to inflict critical damage on large vessels, thereby complicating adversarial plans in East Asia.
China’s rapid advancement in hypersonic weapons technology has drawn global attention due to its remarkable ability to evade traditional defence systems. The anti-ship YJ-21, dubbed the “carrier killer,” is intended for high-value naval targets, capable of supersonic speeds and an estimated range exceeding 600km. Its characteristics suggest a significant threat to naval fleets, pushing the boundaries of what current naval defence systems can effectively counter.
The YJ-19, a cruise missile, stands out for its apparent use of a “scramjet” design, enabling extreme velocity. This, combined with an unpredictable flight path and lower-altitude final approach, makes it formidable. Beijing’s decision to display these weapons sends a clear message: China has the ability to threaten American warships and significantly complicate enemy naval operations, indicating a profound shift in naval power dynamics.
Military equipment: YJ-21
IsMissile: true
Name: YJ-21
Type: Hypersonic weapon,anti-ship ballistic missile
Origin: China
Length: 8.3 m
VehicleRange: convert
Filling: Conventional
Speed: convert
Manufacturer: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology
Service: 2022–present
UsedBy: People’s Liberation Army Navy
LaunchPlatform: Type 055 destroyer
Categories: All stub articles, Anti-ship missiles of the People’s Republic of China, Articles containing simplified Chinese-language text, Articles with short description, Ballistic missiles of the People’s Republic of China
Summary: The YJ-21 (Chinese: 鹰击-21; pinyin: Yīngjī-èryāo; lit. ‘eagle strike 21’) is a Chinese hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile.
Get more information about: YJ-21
2. **Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs)**Another groundbreaking revelation came from China’s extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicles (XLUUVs), with the parade featuring two distinct types. This signaled Beijing’s ambitious drive to compete with leading naval powers, particularly the United States, beneath the waves. One model, the AJX002, estimated at around 60 feet long, featured torpedo-shaped hulls and pump-jet propulsion systems, clearly designed for stealthy operations, with lifting lugs for crane-assisted deployment.
China operates the world’s largest XLUUV program, with at least five distinct types already reported in the water. This commitment to a new frontier of naval warfare signifies China’s intent to use unmanned systems for a potential edge, aiming to create an area in its near seas where external navies might struggle to intervene. Experts suggest this range of types indicates China may be more advanced in this endeavor than other countries, reflecting a comprehensive development strategy.
While public knowledge on these new undersea vehicles remains limited, their potential for weaponization is a serious consideration. Observations such as, “Given the lack of masts and its size, it looks like it’s weaponized… Could be some sort of self-propelled mine or torpedo-like capability,” imply future autonomous offensive missions. Such capabilities would further complicate anti-submarine warfare and present new challenges for naval operations in contested waters.
Military equipment: List of active Royal Navy ships
Categories: Articles with short description, Lists of Royal Navy ships, Lists of currently active military vehicles, Short description is different from Wikidata, Use British English from December 2016
Summary: The Royal Navy is the principal naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Its assets include both commissioned warships and non-commissioned vessels. As of mid-2025, there are 63 commissioned and active ships in the Royal Navy.
Of the commissioned vessels, sixteen are major surface combatants (two aircraft carriers, six guided missile destroyers and eight frigates) and nine are nuclear-powered submarines (four ballistic missile submarines and five fleet submarines). In addition the Navy possesses eight mine countermeasures vessels, twenty-six patrol vessels, two survey vessels, one icebreaker and one historic warship, Victory. The total displacement of the Royal Navy’s commissioned and active ships is approximately 399,000 tonnes.
The Royal Navy also includes a number of smaller non-commissioned assets. The naval training vessels Brecon and Hindostan can be found based at the Royal Navy stone frigates HMS Raleigh and the Britannia Royal Naval College, respectively. Non-commissioned Sea-class workboats, procured under Project Vahana, are operated by the Royal Navy in various support, survey and training roles, replacing previous P1000 Class Picket Boat vessels. This class of vessel also incorporates an autonomous minehunting variant (known as the Arcims-class), while another autonomous vessel, Madfox, is employed in varied roles including as a testbed for autonomous combat operations. Madfox and other experimental vessels, including XV Patrick Blackett and APAC-24 (a crewless Pacific 24 rigid-hulled inflatable boat), are operated by the Fleet Experimentation Squadron within the Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office. As of 2025, XV Excalibur, an Extra-Large Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), was also operated by the Squadron while other autonomous surface vessels, for minehunting, were in service and in the process of procurement from Thales Group.
Besides the Royal Navy, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) and the Royal Marines operate their own flotillas of vessels which complement the assets of the Royal Navy. These vessels are not included in this list or the above figures. Nevertheless, combined, the Royal Navy and RFA have 73 vessels with a total displacement of about 671,000 tonnes, with the principal landing craft of the Royal Marines having an additional combined displacement of about 2,200 tonnes.
As a supporting contingent of His Majesty’s Naval Service, the civilian Marine Services operate nearly 100 auxiliary ships (including coastal logistics, tugs and research vessels) in support of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary operations.
In the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy operates three main bases where commissioned ships are based: HMNB Portsmouth, HMNB Devonport and HMNB Clyde. A number of commissioned vessels, belonging to the University Royal Naval Units (URNU), are stationed at various other locations around the United Kingdom.
The Royal Navy’s principal overseas base is HMS Jufair in Bahrain. A general-purpose frigate and vessels belonging to the navy’s 9th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron are forward-deployed there. Two fast patrol boats, together with a forward-deployed River-class offshore patrol vessel, normally form part of the Gibraltar Squadron and are permanently based there. Four other River-class vessels are also forward-deployed: one in the Falkland Islands, one in the Caribbean and two in the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the United Kingdom maintains a Joint Logistics Support Base in Duqm, Oman.
All ships and submarines currently in commission with the Royal Navy were built in the United Kingdom, with the exceptions of icebreaker Protector which was built in Norway and survey vessel Magpie which was substantially built in Ireland. All commissioned vessels of the Royal Navy bear the ship prefix “HMS”, for His Majesty’s Ship or His Majesty’s Submarine.
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3. **New Generation Nuclear Triad Missiles**Perhaps the most significant strategic message of the parade was China’s explicit showcasing of its full nuclear triad of weapons—those deployable from land, sea, and air. For the first time, China displayed three nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs): the Dong Feng-61, Dong Feng-31BJ, and the Dong Feng 5C. These were a clear declaration of China’s expanding reach and deterrence capabilities, with state media claiming the Dong Feng 5C has the “entire globe under its strike range.”
The Chinese Army also revealed its first air-launched nuclear missile, the JL-1, exhibited on a military truck. This, alongside the JL-3, DF-61, and DF-31, marked the “first concentrated display” of China’s “land, sea and air triad strategic nuclear forces.” This demonstrates a sophisticated and diversified nuclear deterrent. The Dong Feng 5C, with an estimated range over 20,000km and capability to carry up to 12 warheads, signals a major qualitative leap in strategic missile forces.
The appearance of the DF-31BJ missile also bolstered US military assessments regarding China’s intercontinental force expansion. Likely a silo-launch adapted version of the road-mobile DF-31, it seemed to confirm reports of China building three missile silo fields in its northern deserts. One expert noted that parading the DF-31BJ is “likely the closest we’ll come to China acknowledging new silos,” suggesting a more robust and less vulnerable land-based deterrent and a global strategic intent.
Military equipment: Nuclear triad
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Summary: A nuclear triad is a three-pronged military force structure of global-range land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers with nuclear bombs and missiles. More broadly, it can sometimes be used to mean any nuclear force with land, sea, and air basing, and more limited range. Countries build nuclear triads to eliminate an enemy’s ability to destroy a nation’s nuclear forces in a first-strike attack, which preserves their own ability to launch a second strike and therefore increases their nuclear deterrence.
Four countries are known to have complete nuclear triad: the United States, Russia, India, and China. Israel possesses all three delivery platforms but its Popeye SLCMs and fighter bombers are not intercontinental range.
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4. **HQ-29 Space Defence System**China’s ambition extends beyond terrestrial and maritime domains, reaching into the critical realm of space. The HQ-29 space defence system, displayed for the first time, served as a prominent demonstration of China’s burgeoning aerial power and its anti-satellite warfare capabilities. While specifics remain guarded, the system’s considerable size implies an extreme range, potentially comparable to the US Navy’s SM-3 Block IIA, which can be launched from land or ship.
This unveiling underscores a significant strategic shift, as competing in advanced space and electronic warfare realms was explicitly demonstrated by newly formed aerospace, cyberspace, and information support units. The ability to “take out foreign satellites” with systems like the HQ-29 positions China as a formidable player in a domain vital for modern military operations. Such a capability can disrupt an adversary’s command and control, reconnaissance, and navigation systems.
The implications are profound, suggesting a readiness to challenge any adversary’s operational dominance in space. Given modern militaries’ reliance on satellite networks, a credible anti-satellite capability represents a powerful deterrent and a potential force multiplier. The HQ-29’s debut sends a clear message that China views space as a critical theatre of future warfare and is actively developing means to assert its influence there.
Military equipment: HQ-9
IsMissile: true
Name: HQ-9
Caption: An HQ-9 portable launcher during China’s 60th anniversary parade in 2009, Beijing
Origin: China
Type: Surface-to-air missile,Anti-satellite weapon,Anti-ballistic missile
UsedBy: #Operators
Manufacturer: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
Service: 2001 – present
Weight: cvt
Length: cvt
Speed: Mach number
VehicleRange: 120 km (HQ-9)
Ceiling: 50 km (HQ-9B)
FillingWeight: 180 kg
Guidance: Semi-active radar homing
Propellant: Solid fuel
LaunchPlatform: HQ-9 ground-launched,
HHQ-9 surface-launched
Categories: All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, All articles lacking reliable references, All articles needing additional references, All articles that may contain original research, Anti-ballistic missiles of the People’s Republic of China
Summary: The HQ-9 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-9; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-9; pinyin: Hóng Qí-9; lit. ‘Red Banner-9’; NATO reporting name: CH-SA-9.) is a long-range semi-active radar homing (SARH) surface-to-air missile (SAM) developed by the People’s Republic of China. The naval variant is the HHQ-9 (simplified Chinese: 海红旗-9; traditional Chinese: 海紅旗-9; pinyin: Hǎi Hóng Qí-9; lit. ‘Sea Red Banner-9’). The HQ-9 and its export variants are developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).
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5. **Directed Energy Laser Weapons**The parade also brought into sharp focus China’s advancements in directed energy laser weapons, a class of armaments promising a revolution in military defence. The Chinese military displayed two versions: a ship-based laser for naval air defence against aerial threats to maritime assets, and a truck-mounted unit for ground troops. This showcases versatility across different operational environments, highlighting a strategic investment in non-kinetic defence.
Beijing has actively developed laser weapons as a defence against drone attacks and other low-end threats, a strategy driven by their significant cost-effectiveness. A laser shot costs just a fraction of a missile, offering an economical solution for neutralizing persistent, low-cost threats like drone swarms. This economic advantage, coupled with easier logistics, positions laser weapons as an attractive alternative for modernizing defence capabilities.
Directed energy weapons, including high-powered microwave systems, rely on electromagnetic energy to disable targets. This non-kinetic approach offers precise targeting, minimal collateral damage, and deep magazines. The potential deployment of these mobile laser air defence weapons in significant numbers could present real problems for any adversary, significantly enhancing China’s defensive posture, especially against aerial surveillance and attack platforms.
Military equipment: Directed-energy weapon
Categories: All Wikipedia articles written in American English, All articles with dead external links, All articles with unsourced statements, Articles with dead external links from February 2024, Articles with dead external links from June 2012
Summary: A directed-energy weapon (DEW) is a ranged weapon that damages its target with highly focused energy without a solid projectile, including lasers, microwaves, particle beams, and sound beams. Potential applications of this technology include weapons that target personnel, missiles, vehicles, and optical devices.
In the United States, the Pentagon, DARPA, the Air Force Research Laboratory, United States Army Armament Research Development and Engineering Center, and the Naval Research Laboratory are researching directed-energy weapons to counter ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles, and hypersonic glide vehicles. These systems of missile defense are expected to come online no sooner than the mid to late 2020s.
China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, Israel are also developing military-grade directed-energy weapons, while Iran and Turkey claim to have them in active service. The first use of directed-energy weapons in combat between military forces was claimed to have occurred in Libya in August 2019 by Turkey, which claimed to use the ALKA directed-energy weapon. After decades of research and development, most directed-energy weapons are still at the experimental stage and it remains to be seen if or when they will be deployed as practical, high-performance military weapons.
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Read more about: Beyond the Spectacle: What China’s Military Parade Reveals for Asia and a Reordering World
6. **Robot Dogs for Intelligentised Warfare**A truly futuristic glimpse into China’s military ambitions was provided by the display of a “legion of robot dogs.” These robotic units, paraded on top of armoured vehicles, highlighted Beijing’s growing emphasis on “intelligentised warfare”—a commitment to integrating advanced automation and artificial intelligence into the People’s Liberation Army’s operational framework. This signals a significant shift in the nature of future conflict.
The context indicates these robot dogs could be utilized directly in the battlefield or even weaponized for direct combat, performing tasks from reconnaissance and patrol to carrying payloads or engaging targets. This reflects China’s keen interest in developing “modern 21st century warfighting systems” with “autonomous capabilities” and “network capabilities.” The display provided compelling evidence that China views unmanned systems and AI as central to its future military strategy.
The deployment of such intelligent robotic systems could dramatically alter ground combat dynamics, offering capabilities for persistent presence, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced risk to human life in hazardous zones. China’s embrace of robot dogs signifies a forward-looking approach to military innovation, prepared to leverage the full potential of robotics and AI to achieve strategic objectives.
Military equipment: Littoral Combat Ship – LCS
Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Austel
Service: USN
Armament: Mk110 57mm gun; RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile and SEARAM missiles
Speed: 40+ knots
Crew: 40 officers and enlisted
Categories: Ships and Submarines, Frigates, Navy Ships and Submarines, Special Mission Ships and Submarines, Navy Equipment
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7. **Advanced Conventional Cruise Missiles**The spectacle of China’s 2025 Victory Day parade extended beyond the most technologically audacious platforms to include a significant display of modernized conventional cruise missiles. Among these were the Changjian-20A, Yingji-18C, and Changjian-1000, all presented as having “all-weather combat capabilities.” These systems, while perhaps less dramatic than their hypersonic counterparts, form a crucial component of China’s modernized conventional arsenal, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to regional power projection and deterrence.
These cruise missiles are strategically vital for China’s aims, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. They are tailored to “menace American forces” and serve to “magnify Beijing’s threat to Taiwan,” the self-governed island democracy. Their deployment enhances China’s capacity for precision strikes against a range of targets, both naval and land-based, thereby complicating the strategic calculations of potential adversaries. This capability underpins a multi-layered defence and offence strategy, extending China’s reach and influence well beyond its immediate territorial waters.
Unlike the cutting-edge hypersonic missiles which captivated global attention, these advanced cruise missiles represent a more consistent and reliable form of conventional deterrence. Their proven technology and potential for volume deployment make them indispensable to China’s military posture. The emphasis on “all-weather combat capabilities” suggests a doctrine of sustained engagement and readiness, ensuring that China can maintain pressure and respond to contingencies regardless of environmental conditions.
The implications of these conventional cruise missiles, when integrated with other advanced systems, are profound for regional security. Experts, such as James Char, a China defence scholar, suggest that this combination of capabilities, particularly with sea drones, could “create an area that external navies couldn’t even enter to intervene.” This underscores a determined effort by China to establish a formidable defensive perimeter in its near seas, challenging the traditional dominance of foreign naval powers.
Military equipment: Cruise missile
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Summary: A cruise missile is an unmanned self-propelled guided missile that sustains flight through aerodynamic lift for most of its flight path. Cruise missiles are designed to deliver a large payload over long distances with high precision. Modern cruise missiles are capable of traveling at high subsonic, supersonic, or hypersonic speeds, are self-navigating, and are able to fly on a non-ballistic, extremely low-altitude trajectory.
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Read more about: Beyond the Spectacle: What China’s Military Parade Reveals for Asia and a Reordering World
8. **Evolution of Air Power: Manned-Unmanned Teaming**The aerial component of China’s military parade offered a compelling glimpse into its evolving air power strategy, featuring squadrons of fighter jets and bombers that underscored the nation’s conventional air strength. Helicopters flying in symbolic formations, including one group spelling out “80” for the anniversary, served as a potent display of command and control. However, the more forward-looking aspect of this display lay in the integration of unmanned systems, signaling a significant doctrinal shift towards manned-unmanned teaming in future air combat scenarios.
A key revelation was the display of drones described as “loyal wingmen,” carried on trucks. These systems are central to China’s plans to pair manned and unmanned aircraft, leveraging artificial intelligence to enable piloted jets to fly alongside these autonomous platforms. Such drones are envisioned to perform critical functions including surveillance, attacking enemy aircraft, and even blocking incoming missiles, thereby augmenting the capabilities of traditional fighter aircraft and pilots.
The strategic advantages of this manned-unmanned teaming approach are considerable. It promises to enhance the survivability and combat effectiveness of manned platforms by providing additional sensor coverage, firepower, and defensive layers, while simultaneously reducing the risk exposure for human pilots in high-threat environments. This approach also contributes to increasing overall combat mass and operational flexibility, positions China as a formidable player in advanced aerial warfare. Andreas Rupprecht, an expert on Chinese military aviation, notes that “In many technological areas, it is in the fast lane — sometimes on par with, or even ahead of, leading powers.”
Nevertheless, the full operational readiness of these advanced aerial unmanned systems remains a subject of expert scrutiny. None of the unmanned planes were showcased in flight during the parade, which suggests they might still be “a work in progress.” This highlights the inherent challenges in transitioning cutting-edge prototypes into fully operational, deployable units, where standardization and mass production capabilities are paramount for effective military integration.
Military equipment: Manned-unmanned teaming
Categories: All articles containing potentially dated statements, All articles with dead external links, All articles with unsourced statements, All self-contradictory articles, Articles containing potentially dated statements from March 2023
Summary: Manned-unmanned teaming refers to the collaborative operation of manned and unmanned systems, typically in military or aerospace contexts, to enhance mission effectiveness. It enables human operators to control, coordinate, or supervise autonomous or semi-autonomous platforms, such as drones or robotic systems, to improve situational awareness, reduce risk, and optimize performance in complex environments.
A loyal wingman is a proposed type of unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) which incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and is capable of collaborating with the next generation of crewed combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Also unlike the conventional UCAV, the loyal wingman is expected to be capable of surviving on the battlefield but to be significantly lower-cost than a crewed aircraft with similar capabilities. In the US, the concept is known as the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA). CCAs are intended to operate in collaborative teams with the next generation of manned combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Unlike the conventional UCAVs, the CCA incorporates artificial intelligence (AI), denoted an “autonomy package”, increasing its survivability on the battlefield. It is still expected to cost much less than a manned aircraft with similar capabilities. The US Air Force plans to spend more than $8.9 billion on its CCA programs from fiscal years 2025 to 2029, with an additional $661 million planned for fiscal year 2024. The success of the CCA program may lessen the need for additional manned squadrons.
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9. **Rapid Deployment Airborne Combat Vehicles**A notable addition to China’s ground forces capabilities displayed at the parade was a new generation of armored combat vehicles specifically designed for rapid deployment. These vehicles, equipped with what appeared to be periscope-like viewers for enhanced situational awareness from within, underscored China’s investment in swiftly projecting power and protecting ground troops in diverse operational theaters. Their design facilitates deployment from transport planes, allowing for insertion into contested areas with unprecedented speed.
Joshua Arostegui, research director of the China Landpower Studies Center at the U.S. Army War College, highlighted the strategic intent behind these new vehicles, noting that China is “investing in possible rapid deployment to Taiwan or even far beyond China.” This capability significantly enhances the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) ability to conduct airborne operations, providing light infantry forces with considerably “more firepower and protection” when operating behind enemy lines or responding rapidly to emergent crises abroad.
The implications of such rapid deployment capabilities for regional security are substantial. They signify China’s commitment to not only defend its immediate interests but also to project power efficiently across a wider strategic expanse. These vehicles are designed to overcome logistical hurdles and reduce response times, enabling the PLA to secure objectives or reinforce positions quickly, thereby complicating any adversary’s ability to counter Chinese military movements around the region. This agility is a critical asset in modern warfare, where speed of response can dictate operational success.
Military equipment: Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force
War: Cold War
Successor: United States Central Command
UnitName: Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force
Active: start date
Allegiance: [object Object]
Partof: U.S. Readiness Command
Type: Joint task force
Garrison: MacDill AFB,Florida
Predecessor: Rapid Deployment Force
Categories: Articles with short description, Joint task forces of the United States Armed Forces, Military units and formations disestablished in 1983, Military units and formations established in 1980, Organizations based in Tampa, Florida
Summary: The Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF) is an inactive United States Department of Defense Joint Task Force. It was first envisioned as a three-division force in 1979 as the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF), a highly mobile rapid deployment force that could be rapidly moved to locations outside the normal overseas deployments in Europe and Korea. Its charter was expanded and greatly strengthened in 1980 as the RDJTF. It was inactivated in 1983, and re-organized as the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM).
After the end of American involvement in the Vietnam War, U.S. attention gradually focused on the Persian Gulf region. The Yom Kippur War of 1973, the Soviet–U.S. confrontation, and the subsequent 1973 oil crisis led to President Richard Nixon issuing a warning that “American military intervention to protect vital oil supplies” was a possibility, served to increase attention on the area as being vital to U.S. national interests.
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Read more about: Forging the Future of Warfare: Inside the Pentagon’s Urgent Quest for Combat-Ready Drones Amidst Ukraine’s Shadow
10. **Expanded Ground Unmanned Systems**Beyond the much-discussed robot dogs, China’s parade showcased a broader array of diverse ground unmanned systems, signaling a comprehensive embrace of robotic warfare across various battlefield functions. Formations included ground drones, some overtly “armed with machine guns,” indicating direct combat roles, while others were explicitly “suited for mine-clearing or logistics.” This diversity highlights a strategy to integrate unmanned systems deeply into ground operations, enhancing both offensive and support capabilities.
Further demonstrating this commitment were remote-controlled armored buggies specifically designed to “clear mines and pick up wounded soldiers.” These platforms underscore a dual focus on tactical advantage and force protection, leveraging automation to perform dangerous tasks that traditionally place human lives at high risk. By delegating such hazardous missions to machines, China aims to improve the safety and operational efficiency of its ground troops, allowing human personnel to concentrate on more complex, decision-intensive roles.
While the strategic advantages of these systems are clear, experts such as Joshua Arostegui caution that “the biggest issue with these systems is going to be cost and repair.” The financial outlay for developing, procuring, and maintaining a large fleet of advanced ground drones can be substantial, posing potential long-term logistical and economic challenges. Nonetheless, China’s expansive display reinforces its “heavy commitment” to unmanned systems across all domains, viewing them as central pillars of its “intelligentised warfare” doctrine.
Military equipment: Unmanned aerial vehicle
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Summary: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or unmanned aircraft system (UAS), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft with no human pilot, crew, or passengers on board, but rather is controlled remotely or is autonomous. UAVs were originally developed through the twentieth century for military missions too “dull, dirty or dangerous” for humans, and by the twenty-first, they had become essential assets to most militaries. As control technologies improved and costs fell, their use expanded to many non-military applications. These include aerial photography, area coverage, precision agriculture, forest fire monitoring, river monitoring, environmental monitoring, weather observation, policing and surveillance, infrastructure inspections, smuggling, product deliveries, entertainment and drone racing.
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Read more about: Beyond the Spectacle: What China’s Military Parade Reveals for Asia and a Reordering World
11. **The Type-100 Main Battle Tank**The unveiling of the Type-100 main battle tank at the 2025 parade marked a significant milestone in the modernization of China’s conventional ground forces. This new platform represents a sophisticated integration of advanced technologies, designed to enhance the combat effectiveness and survivability of the People’s Liberation Army’s armored units. Its debut signaled China’s ongoing commitment to equipping its army with cutting-edge capabilities that can contend with the most modern armored threats globally.
Analysts noted that the Type-100 was “bristling with new systems, including air defences and reconnaissance drones.” This multi-faceted design philosophy indicates a departure from traditional tank paradigms, moving towards more networked and self-sufficient combat platforms. The integration of organic air defense capabilities provides protection against aerial threats such as attack helicopters and drones, while integrated reconnaissance drones enhance situational awareness and targeting capabilities, allowing the tank to operate more autonomously and effectively within a complex battlefield environment.
These advanced features fundamentally reshape the role and impact of battle tanks in modern ground combat. The Type-100’s integrated design significantly enhances its survivability and offensive potential, presenting a formidable challenge to conventional ground forces that lack similar holistic defensive and reconnaissance capabilities. This development reflects China’s strategic vision for its land forces: to field highly capable, multi-role platforms that can adapt to a wide spectrum of threats and operational demands, thereby strengthening its overall military posture and ensuring its armored units remain at the forefront of technological advancement.
Military equipment: Type 80/88 main battle tank
Name: Type 80/Type 88
Caption: Type 80 with 105mm rifled gun
Type: Main battle tank
Origin: China
IsVehicle: true
Service: 1988–present
UsedBy: #Operators
Wars: 2020–2021 China–India skirmishes,Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
DesignDate: 1978 (Type 80),1981–1987 (Type 88)
Manufacturer: Norinco
Variants: Type 80,Type 85,Type 88
Weight: 38 tonne (Type 80/88),39.5 tonne (Type 85),44 tonne (Type 85-III)
Length: 6.325 m (vehicle hull),9.336m (gun forward; Type 80/88),10.369m (gun forward; Type 85-III)
Width: 3.372 m
Height: 2.29 m
Crew: 4 (Type 80/88),3 (Type 85-IIAP/Type 88C)
Armour: Type 80: Cast Steel Turret
Type 85II/Type 88: Welded Steel/Composite Armor Turret. May be fitted with Explosive Reactive Armor
PrimaryArmament: ZPL-79 105mm rifled gun (Type 80),ZPL-83 105mm rifled gun (Type 88),ZPL-83A 105mm rifled gun (Type 85/88B),ZPL-94 105mm rifled gun (Type 88A),ZPT-88C 125mm smoothbore gun (Type 85IIA/Type 88C)
SecondaryArmament: coaxial,machine gun
Engine: Diesel engine
EnginePower: 730 hp (537 kW)
FuelCapacity: 1433L
PwRatio: 18.9hp/ton (Type 80/85/88)
VehicleRange: 500 km (Type 80/85/88),400 km (Type 88C)
Speed: 57 km/h
Categories: All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2020, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2024, Articles with short description
Summary: The Type 80 (Chinese: 80式; pinyin: BālíngShì) and the Type 88 (Chinese: 88式; pinyin: Bābāshì) are a family of Chinese second-generation main battle tanks (MBTs). They are also known as the ZTZ80 and ZTZ88.
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12. **Strategic Cyberspace and Information Support Units**The parade also offered a crucial insight into China’s evolving military doctrine beyond physical hardware, with the prominent appearance of newly formed “cyberspace unit” and “information support units.” This public display of specialized personnel underscored China’s strategic intent to compete vigorously in the critical domains of “advanced space and electronic warfare realms.” It signaled a formal recognition of cyber and information operations as integral components of modern conflict, essential for achieving strategic objectives without necessarily resorting to kinetic force.
The significance of these dedicated units in contemporary warfare cannot be overstated. They are designed to play a pivotal role in “disrupting an adversary’s command and control, reconnaissance, and navigation systems,” which are the nerve centers of any modern military. By targeting these vital networks, China aims to achieve operational dominance across all domains, integrating cyber capabilities into its broader “intelligentised warfare” framework. This approach allows for the degradation of an adversary’s military effectiveness and decision-making processes, often before any physical engagement occurs.
The long-term implications of China’s burgeoning cyberspace and information support capabilities for regional and global military balances are profound. Such forces represent a potent, often unseen, dimension of modern conflict, enabling strategic disruption and influence that can shape the battlefield and geopolitical landscape without direct kinetic engagement. Their development signifies a comprehensive strategy to assert influence across the full spectrum of warfare, demanding a re-evaluation of how nations conceive and counter threats in the 21st century’s interconnected world.
**A New World Order in Motion**
The 2025 Victory Day parade was more than a commemorative event; it was a comprehensive demonstration of China’s rapidly advancing military capabilities and its vision for a reconfigured world order. From its potent nuclear triad and formidable hypersonic missiles to its sophisticated unmanned systems and integrated information warfare units, the parade underscored a nation determined to back its aspirations with high-tech arms. The strategic message was unequivocal: China possesses the industrial might and technological prowess to challenge existing power balances and project its influence across all domains of warfare.
Military equipment: People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force
UnitName: People’s Liberation Army,Cyberspace Force
NativeName: Lang
StartDate: [object Object]
Country: PRC
Allegiance: CCP flag
Type: Cyber force
Role: Cyberwarfare
CommandStructure: Armed forces
Commander1: Jiang (rank),Interlanguage link
Commander1Label: Commanding officer
Commander2: Jiang (rank),Interlanguage link
Commander2Label: Political Commissar
IdentificationSymbol: File:China Emblem PLA.svg
IdentificationSymbolLabel: Symbol
IdentificationSymbol2: File:Cyberspace Flag of the People’s Republic of China.svg
IdentificationSymbol2Label: Flag
IdentificationSymbol3Label: Sleeve badge
Categories: 2024 establishments in China, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles with short description, Military articles needing translation from Chinese Wikipedia
Summary: The People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force is an arm of the People’s Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024, followed by the dissolution of the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF). And the Cyberspace Force received the functions of the former PLASSF’s Network Systems Department.
Get more information about: People’s Liberation Army Cyberspace Force
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While questions about the full operational readiness and combat experience of some of these new systems remain pertinent, the sheer volume and sophistication of the hardware unveiled necessitate a profound re-evaluation of global defence strategies. As Alexander Neill, a Singapore-based security analyst, observed, “China was sending a message of technological advance and military strength on all fronts – there is indeed a lot for rival defence planners to get their heads around.” This parade was not merely a display of military hardware; it was a potent declaration of China’s strategic intent, signaling a new chapter in global security dynamics that demands serious consideration from all international actors.
