Advertisement
Advertisement
70th anniversary of Japan's WW2 surrender
Get more with myNEWS
A personalised news feed of stories that matter to you
Learn more

From tanks to carrier killers: 10 weapons unveiled at China's military parade

Fuelled by booming defence spending, the People’s Liberation Army is expected to today showcase breakthroughs in missile technology and military aircraft that reflect its increasing focus on projecting force beyond its borders, especially adjacent seas where it competes with neighbours for territory and resources.

Fuelled by booming defence spending, the People’s Liberation Army is expected to today showcase breakthroughs in missile technology and military aircraft that reflect its increasing focus on projecting force beyond its borders, especially adjacent seas where it competes with neighbours for territory and resources.

Here are 10 military hardware pieces that analysts and other nation’s defence experts will likely be watching out for.

SECOND ARTILLERY CORPS

1) DF-26 missile

The intermediate-range ballistic missile is dubbed the “Guam killer”, with its 4,000km range putting it within striking distance of the US naval base at Guam

2) DF-21D missile

The anti-ship ballistic missile is known as a carrier-killer with a maximum range of 1,450km

3) DF-5B missile

The liquid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic can carry three or more nuclear warheads with a range of up to 15,000km

AIR FORCE 

4) WZ-19 armed helicopter  

Used mainly to attack tanks and other heavy targets. It has a take-off weight of 4,500kg, and a maximum cruising speed of 245km/h. It can fly three-hours without refuelling

5) Y-9 transport aircraft  

It’s a medium-sized, medium-range turboprop multipurpose workhorse. The design platform for the air force’s early warning aircraft KJ-200 and KJ-500   

6) H-6K strategic bomber  

The aircraft gives China long-range stand-off capabilities. It is capable of attacking US carrier battle groups and priority targets in Asia. It also has nuclear strike capability

ARMY

7) ZTL-09 tank  

The fire support vehicle houses a new domestically made 105mm gun, with an effective range of more than 2km against armoured targets

8) ZTZ-99A tank  

A main battle tank with a 125mm smoothbore gun and carousel-style autoloader. The vehicle can carry 42 rounds, with an additional 22 stored in the separate autoloader. The rate of fire is eight rounds per minute, and two rounds per minute if manually loaded

9) ZBD-04 tank  

Infantry fighting vehicle designed to provide protected transport for an infantry squad on the battlefield

NAVY

10) HQ-10/FL-3000N missile   

A short-range air-defence missile, capable of expanding the navy’s force projection capability. The weapon is mounted on the navy’s most advanced Type 052D  destroyers and Type 056 frigates

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Post