China showcases weaponries during the second trial of the September 03rd Parade.

New YJ anti-ship and laser weapons among the armaments spotted in photos and videos of a military parade rehearsal in the Chinese capital.

Aug 2025 : New hypersonic anti-ship missiles and a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system were among a line-up of advanced Chinese weaponry seen on the streets of Beijing over the weekend. The trial show exhibited unmanned underwater vehicles, a gigantic laser weapon, a fleet of drones and unmanned ground vehicles being transported, as well as next-generation tanks and armoured vehicles.

The rehearsal (trial run) which took place from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning near Tiananmen Square and involved about 40,000 personnel – included much of the equipment that will be on show during the Victory Day parade. It followed a smaller rehearsal the previous weekend.

New anti-ship missiles from the YJ series were among the weaponry seen in the photos. They showed the YJ-15 missile as well as three that appeared to be hypersonic missiles: the YJ-17, YJ-19 and YJ-20.

The YJ-17 appears to have a distinctive hypersonic glide vehicle similar to the DF-17, China’s first HGV missile in service. Meanwhile, an air inlet visible on the YJ-19 and its similarity to the Russian Zircon hypersonic cruise missile suggest it is also an HCV missile driven by an air-breathing scramjet. And the YJ-20’s biconic aerodynamic configuration points to it being a manoeuvrable re-entry vehicle.

Also seen was a new transporter-erector-launcher vehicle carrying a massive missile canister covered by a tarp. Its previously unseen single-side cab design suggests it is a new or upgraded road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile system. 02 new extra-large unmanned underwater vehicles were seen on trailers – one was the AJX002, while an even larger one was kept under wraps. The torpedo-shaped AJX002 is about 18 to 20 metres (59 to 65 feet) long with pump jet propulsion. It looks similar to the Russian Poseidon nuclear torpedo, but it is not known if it is nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered.

A huge, boxy eight-wheeled vehicle painted in camouflage was also seen in the rehearsal. Despite being covered, its turret has an outline that looks like the weapon station of existing laser air defence systems. The vehicle’s size also suggests it has the power needed for a directed-energy laser, while its “HZ” designation suggests it is a naval system.

The PLA’s next-generation armoured vehicles have also drawn attention, in particular a new light tank that is smaller than the Type 99A.

The show exhibited a four-sided radar, active protection systems, a laser weapon and an air defence gun. That combination boosts survivability against anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, loitering munitions and unmanned aerial vehicles.

A 105mm main gun appeared to be mounted on an unmanned turret, while the crew is seen in helmets equipped with tactical augmented reality and virtual reality displays and wearing smartwatches – suggesting the tanks use a combination of human and unmanned systems. New armoured infantry fighting vehicles and fire support vehicles, with similar active protection systems, alongside the light tanks were visible. New airborne armoured infantry fighting vehicles and airborne mobile mortars are also seen.

A Chinese military spokesman said earlier that all the weaponry that would go on display in the parade would be “domestically produced and in service”, reflecting the PLA’s ability to “adapt to technological developments and evolution of warfare forms, and to win future wars”.

Team Maverick