Some 16 years after China first showcased drones in a military parade, there is keen interest in how the People’s Liberation Army has developed its unmanned systems, and how they will be displayed during Beijing’s military parade on Wednesday.
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Analysts say the breadth and variety of drone systems expected at China’s coming military parade could underscore the PLA’s rapid advances in integrating autonomous technologies across air, land and sea, signalling a shift towards AI-enabled, multi-domain operations.
While previously unseen models might be revealed, and could be presented in mixed formations to reflect real war scenarios, including their AI-assisted capacities, experts tend to believe the systems will still be shown in static displays instead of in motion for security reasons.
On Wednesday, September 3, China is set to hold its largest military parade, marking the 80th anniversary of victory in World War II, with officials last month pledging to unveil “new-domain forces and new-quality combat capabilities” that include advanced unmanned systems.
For three consecutive weekends in August, Beijing staged large-scale rehearsals near Tiananmen Square. Although authorities have disclosed no equipment details, leaked photos of previously unseen systems have been circulating widely on social media, fuelling speculation among military observers.
Chinese PLA soldiers rehearse for Victory Day parade
Chinese PLA soldiers rehearse for Victory Day parade
Responding to questions about public expectations, Wu Zeke, deputy director of the Military Parade Leading Group Office, said certain “unmanned and counter-unmanned systems will be publicly displayed for the first time, highlighting the PLA’s strong capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as to maintain world peace”.
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