The Front Line | How will advanced drones and robobeasts share the stage with China’s military personnel?
PLA describes parade formation as ‘organised according to real-combat joint groupings’, suggesting cross-system operational readiness
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 combat scenarios, including their AI-assisted abilities, experts tend to believe the systems will still be shown in static displays instead of in motion for security reasons.
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
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”.