Detailed Interpretation of China’s V-Day parade (part 1)
China held a grand V-Day military parade on 3rd September 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. During this parade, many advanced weapons and equipment made their debut, including China’s new-generation tank with a whole new design concept, several types of hypersonic anti-ship missiles, air superiority drones, as well as the country’s nuclear triad, which includes air-launched, submarine-launched and land-based strategic missiles.
Almost all the parade soldiers at the V-day military parade are equipped with the new generation of QBZ191 automatic rifles. Back to China’s National Day military parade in 2019, the parade soldiers generally used 95 or 95-1 rifles, while the motorized soldiers using 192 short rifles.
It has been ten years since the first appearance of the 99A Tank at the September 3rd Military Parade in 2015. Ten years ago, the Type 99A was undoubtedly the most advanced main battle tank of China, and it remains powerful even now. This year, the 99B Tank made its debut at the military parade. Although the 99B and 99A are almost identical in appearance, through technological integration and functional expansion, their information capabilities, mobility, and maneuverability in complex geographical environments and continuous combat capabilities for crew members in adverse weather conditions have been significantly enhanced.
China also showcased its fourth-generation tank – the Type 100 Tank, as well as the corresponding Type 100 tank support vehicles. The Type 100 tank features outstanding automated, intelligent and information-based combat capabilities, and is equipped with an active defense system for intercepting anti-tank rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles. This tank is equipped with an unmanned turret and a two-person crew, enhancing its automated combat capability.
The new generation of 8×8 wheeled amphibious combat vehicles also appeared in this military parade. The ZTL11 wheeled assault gun, ZBL09 infantry fighting vehicle and ZLL09 self-propelled howitzer participated in the military parade as amphibious assault formations of the Marine Corps.
The PHL191 370mm long-range rocket launcher and the 750mm tactical missile also appeared in the military parade. The carriers of these two weapons are exactly the same, but the ammunition adopt a modular design. A rocket launcher can carry both 370-millimeter rockets and 750-millimeter tactical missiles, and can even be used with the old-fashioned 300-millimeter rockets.
