Hypersonic missile, new ICBM, laser tank, advanced drones and….China shocks the world with next-level weapons, is this a message to US, India?
New Delhi: China will observe the 80th China Victory Day Parade 2025 on September 3, 2025, in Beijing. The second comprehensive rehearsal for the parade was conducted from 5:30 p.m. Saturday, 16 August to 3:30 a.m. Sunday, 17 August, in Tian’anmen Square, Beijing.
What was displayed during the rehearsal of China’s Victory Day Parade?
During the rehearsal, the Chinese administration displayed new, advanced, and futuristic weapons and military systems, including new ballistic missiles, hypersonic anti-ship missiles, drones and an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Several pictures have surfaced online, showing advanced weapons of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Photos and video footage show unmanned underwater vehicles, a huge laser weapon, drones and a fleet of unmanned ground vehicles. Along with these, next-generation tanks and armoured vehicles are also seen on the streets of Beijing. During the Victory Day Parade, more amazing, mysterious weapons are likely to be displayed.
What are China’s new destructive hypersonic missiles?
The rehearsal showed the YJ series anti-ship missiles, in which models like YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20 were seen. The Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) of YJ-17 is reminiscent of China’s first HGV, DF-17 missile, while the YJ-19 is similar to Russia’s Zircon hypersonic cruise missile. The YJ-20’s biconic aerodynamic configuration makes it a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle, which is specially designed to dodge enemy air defence systems.
Apart from this, a new road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system was also seen. This is the first time that China has launched this missile on the roads. With this, China can attack America very fast. Apart from this, its single-side cab design and huge missile canister indicate that the PLA is working on a more destructive ICBM.
UUV or unmanned underwater drone
The parade displayed weapons that could attack from sea and space, like an underwater drone named AJX002 has also been seen in the pictures and video footage. Its length has been estimated to be around 18 to 20 meters, similar to the Russian Poseidon nuclear torpedo. However, it is not clear at the moment whether it is operational with nuclear energy or not. Apart from this, another even bigger underwater vehicle has been seen, which was completely covered with a tarpaulin. This clearly shows that China has taken its naval power to the next level.
Laser air defence
A huge box-shaped vehicle with eight wheels has also been seen, whose tower was kept hidden. From its shape, it seems that it is ‘HZ’, i.e. a laser air defence system, or it could be a directed energy weapon. It is meant to destroy a drone swarm attack by the enemies, a new trend in modern warfare. Drone swarms dodge air defence and then destroy them. It becomes impossible to stop them with traditional air defence, but laser air defence can destroy them in a flash. That is, PLA is trying to show that it is fully prepared for future wars.
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