With 20 world leaders in attendance, including Russia’s Putin, Xi Jinping paraded an impressive array of drones and advanced hypersonic missiles as China hosted its Victory Day parade.
China flexed its military might in a staggering show of its advanced weapon systems, missiles and stealth fighter jets on Wednesday as it marked 80 years since the end of World War II.
With 20 world leaders in attendance, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping paraded advanced hypersonic missiles designed to take out ships, underwater drones, anti-ship missiles and armoured vehicles as the world got to witness some of the most high-tech military hardware for the first time at the iconic Tian’anmen Square.
A new intercontinental ballistic missile, of the Dongfeng series, that could carry nuclear warheads to distant targets also made its debut.
An impressive array of drones was also on display, as was the much-talked about LY-1 laser weapon. China also showed its aerial strength as fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, including the J-20s and J-35s, zoomed past.
Even though analysts have expressed scepticism over the efficacy of Chinese weapons, especially after Operation Sindoor exposed vulnerabilities in Chinese air defence systems with Pakistan, it is a fact that most of the military hardware on display on Wednesday are not available with India or are under development.
A LOOK AT CHINA’S NEW WEAPONS
Hypersonic ‘Yingji’ missiles
China displayed several new YJ-series hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles. These are designed to strike warships out at sea at six to seven times the speed of sound with last-stage manoeuvres that make it impossible for air defences to thwart incoming attacks.
YJ-21 anti-ship missile
The YJ-21, already deployed on Chinese warships, differs from traditional hypersonic cruise missiles by incorporating a ballistic flight path. The missile can fly outside the atmosphere before re-entering at six to seven times the speed of sound, furthering its reach and increasing its terminal speed.
With the Yingji series and YJ-21, China demonstrated its dominance of a missile technology that is still under development in most countries, including India.
DF-5C intercontinental missile
The DF-5C ICBM, a new addition to China’s long-range nuclear missile family, was paraded with multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles (MIRVs). The missile, which launches from underground silos, has the ability to cross continents and target multiple locations in a single launch.
DF-17 with hypersonic glide vehicle
The DF-17 combines a traditional ballistic missile that launches a hypersonic glide vehicle into space before the latter re-enters and hones in on a target at speeds of Mach 6 to 7. This makes the glide vehicle harder to intercept and allows precision strikes at longer ranges.
JL-1 air-launched nuclear missile
An air-launched version of the JL-1 nuclear-capable missile was seen making its public debut as part of China’s ‘nuclear triad’. Launched by a heavy bomber such as the H-6, the JL-1 gives China the ability to fire an aerial nuclear missile from hundreds of kilometres away – a distinct advantage over conventional methods such as flying over a target and dropping a gravity bomb.
AJX002 under-sea drone
A giant under-sea drone, the AJX002 is reported to be over 18 metres long with a torpedo-like shape and pump-jet propulsion. Such drones can conduct stealthy surveillance, mine warfare or act as decoys.
Large unmanned surface vessel
A large unmanned surface vessel with stealth shaping was shown for the first time at the parade. Like the drone submarine, not much is known about this vessel.
J-20 and J-35 stealth fighters
The parade featured China’s fifth-generation J-20 and J-35 fighters. The J-20 is an advanced long-range stealth jet, while the carrier-borne J-35 will bring low-observable strike capability to Chinese aircraft carriers. Not really new, the jets represent the pinnacle of fighter jet technology that is in service right now. India is yet to start developing its own fifth-generation jet.
