PLA to showcase top weapons for the first time in parade

Established for just a year, Chinese armed police motorcycle guard formation will make its debut on the V-Day Parade that will be held on Sep 3 in Beijing. [Photo/81.cn]

He also noted the DF-26, an intermediate-range ballistic missile that will be made public on Thursday, fills the vacancy of an intermediate-range projection platform in the PLA's missile arsenal.

According to an article on the Popular Science website, the DF-26 fills a gap between the smaller DF-21 medium-range ballistic missile and the DF-31 and DF-41 intercontinental ballistic missile. The article said the weapon was solid-fueled and transported on a 12-wheel transporter-erector-launcher vehicle for quick off-road launches.

In addition to strategic missiles, another weapon that will be worth paying attention to in the parade is the YJ-12 heavy-duty, supersonic anti-ship missile, said Qin Zhen, executive editor of Ordnance Knowledge magazine.

With its ultrafast speed and long striking range, the weapon is capable of penetrating a carrier battle group's air defense network and can use sea-skimming maneuvers to avoid interception when approaching the target, according to Qin.

"If a 100,000-metric ton aircraft carrier is hit by two YJ-12s, the ship will lose combat capability because no aircraft will be able to take off from the deck," Qin said.

Fu Qianshao, an aviation equipment expert with the PLA air force, suggested spectators can enjoy the world's longest colored vapor trails set to be made by J-10 fighter jets from the PLA August 1st Air Demonstration Team as the formations fly over Tian'anmen Square.

"The trails will stretch for as long as 9.1 km, covering the main section of Chang'an Avenue from China World Towers in the east to Fuxingmen Bridge in the west," he said.

At the end of the parade, aviation fans can expect to see the world's largest group of helicopters that has ever been shown in a parade, he said.