Key Points and Summary – Rehearsal photos for China’s upcoming September 3rd Victory Day Parade are offering a sneak peek at a new generation of advanced weaponry.
-Among the hardware spotted is a mysterious new road-mobile ICBM under a tarp, “loyal wingman” combat drones, and next-generation armored vehicles.
-Perhaps most significant is the appearance of what experts believe to be a new mobile laser weapon system, potentially based on existing anti-drone technology.
-The parade is set to be a major display of China’s rapid military modernization, revealing capabilities in strategic, unmanned, and directed-energy warfare.
Is China Preparing to Reveal New ICBM, Laser Weapons on September 3?
In recent days, images emerged depicting Chinese missile systems – four of which appear to be new – loaded onto vehicles in preparation for the upcoming 2025 China Victory Day Parade.
The event, scheduled for September 3, will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Second World War in Asia – and is anticipated to include a range of new Chinese weapons systems, armored vehicles, and more.
Our first look at images from the recent second rehearsal revealed some of the likely characteristics of upcoming Chinese missile systems, but additional imagery that has emerged online reveals more about the kind of military hardware we should expect to see.
Among the new hardware likely to be on display during the military parade are new armored vehicles, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system, and new “loyal wingman” drones.
Here’s What to Expect
Images shared on social media appear to suggest that China is preparing to display a new or upgraded variant of its road-mobile ICBM system.
The weapon, which was seen in Beijing, appeared to be loaded onto a transport-erector-launcher vehicle and covered by a tarp.
And while little is known about the system that could be revealed in the coming weeks, existing ICBM technology suggests that whatever it is, it will likely have a range greater than 5,500 kilometers, and will almost certainly be capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional warheads.
Beyond missiles, however, China is expected to reveal some of its new “loyal wingman” drone designs – otherwise known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) or Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV). These drones are designed to fly alongside Chinese fighter jets like the J-35A or J-20, providing additional air support from aircraft operated through a combination of artificial intelligence (AI) and a second pilot onboard a twin-seat fighter jet.
Some images of these drones have already been seen, with some drones already stationed in Beijing resembling the FH-97 or FH-97A – two designs that have already been publicly displayed during exhibitions over the last three years.
We’re also likely to get a look at China’s next-generation armored vehicles.
Other images shared on social media depict at least one new system, kitted out with a four-sided radar, a new laser weapon, and built-in air defense systems.
History In the Making?
China’s newest armored vehicles and tanks are expected to feature technology designed to improve survivability against emerging threats like drone warfare, new anti-tank missiles, loitering munitions, and more.
Perhaps most curious, however, is China’s ongoing work on directed energy weapons – and the upcoming military parade in Tiananmen Square could give the world its first look at what’s in the works.
Leaked photos have so far only shown eight-wheeled vehicles carrying what is believed to be a naval laser air defense system – potentially based on the existing Silent Hunter anti-drone laser weapon that is reportedly already being used by Russian forces in Ukraine.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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