From the world’s first “loyal wingman” drone to hypersonic weapons, and robotic wolves, here is what China has shown at its Victory Parade on Wednesday.
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China is flexing its military muscle at its politically charged Victory Parade military event on Wednesday, where the country is showcasing its defence technology to the world.
The annual event marks the 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II, and is held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. China’s President Xi Jinping is attending, as well as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un.
More than 10,000 military personnel are expected to walk the parade, but all eyes will be on the country’s defence tech as electronic and hypersonic warfare gains ground.
Here is what was on display.
The robotic wolf
The four-legged robot is relatively new and similar to the robot dogs.
They were rebranded "wolves" as part of a "strategic transformation," Chinese state media CCTV reported last year.
State media said it has cameras and is better at hitting targets and has better combat effectiveness.
The ‘loyal wingman’ drone
Leaked photos of the Victory Parade drills showed the stealth attack drone known as a “loyal wingman,” the South China Morning Post reported.
However, Euronews could not verify if it was on show.
The FH-97 is a single-engine, ground-attack uncrewed drone. It has been called China’s first combat-ready stealth drone, and it would also be the first in the world.
It is capable of coordinated attacks alongside crewed jets and can carry out reconnaissance attacks and electronic jamming.
Other drones were highly featured, including unmanned underwater drones that would give China vast surveillance capabilities. There were also high-altitude interceptors spotted.
Other new military equipment we have just spotted includes the HQ-29 high-altitude interceptor, which is designed for ground-to-air missiles and underwater vehicles.
There's a lot of drone technology as well, including drone platforms mounted on tanks, anti-drone swarm systems, as well as automated drones and "robotic dog" drones.
Hypersonic weapons
China has made no secret of its hypersonic weapons, an advanced missile model that travels at several thousand kilometres per hour.
In 2019, China introduced its hypersonic weapon, the DF-17 missile, for the first time. It was unveiled during a military parade to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic in 2019.
China is reportedly now developing a new generation of advanced mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
Believed to be China's most powerful, the DF-61 was on show. It is said to have a range of 14,000 km.
Also on parade was the DF-5C, a new type of China's Dongfeng-5 nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile. It can carry up to 12 warheads on a single rocket and has anti-jamming technology.
Another missile at the parade was the so-called "Guam Killer" Dongfeng (DF)-26D missile. It is an intermediate-range missile that could hit US bases.
Anti-ship missiles
China’s naval power has been growing, with the country seeking to establish itself as a dominant force.
The country reportedly had 12 nuclear and 48 diesel-powered submarines as of 2024, which include a Type-96 next-generation ballistic missile submarine.
A similar new nuclear-powered attack submarine may be in development.
Some of the most anticipated weapons are anti-ship missiles that can neutralise aircraft carriers and large naval units.
China showed off its YJ-17 missile, a medium-range ballistic missile that also has a hypersonic glide vehicle.
