China's New Military Equipment Revealed - The PLA Parade and its Modernisation Speed Run

Video Description

The modernisation of the People's Liberation Army has been dramatic, rapid, and occasionally secretive. Earlier this month, we got a bit of a window into the equipment side of that transformation process, with Beijing opting to show of dozens of weapon systems (many for the first time publicly) as part of their commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Japan's 1945 defeat. From the start of the 21st Century the PRC has transitioned from being overwhelmingly reliant on derivatives of Soviet and Russian platforms to a country capable of pushing forward with its own designs supported by the world's largest manufacturing base. Today, I look at a selection of those designs and ask what they can tell us about where the PLA is in its modernisation journey, and where it might be going in the future. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PerunAU Reading and Sourcing (in progress): Federation of American Scientists - Nuclear weapons at China's 2025 Parade https://fas.org/publication/nuclear-weapons-at-chinas-2025-victory-day-parade/ PRC nuclear weapon estimates 2021 and 2025 https://thebulletin.org/premium/2021-11/nuclear-notebook-chinese-nuclear-forces-2021/ https://thebulletin.org/premium/2025-03/chinese-nuclear-weapons-2025/ Reporting on China warhead build up https://www.politico.com/news/2024/12/18/pentagon-report-china-nuclear-weapons-00195031 GAO & Minuteman III extension https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/09/10/us-air-force-may-keep-minuteman-iii-nukes-operating-until-2050-report/ Janes - China sets sights on modernisation targets https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-and-national-security-analysis/china-sets-sights-on-modernisation-targets J-15D (2024) https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/defence/airshow-china-2024-china-unveils-operationalised-j-15d-electronic-warfare-aircraft Global Times reporting on the Parade: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342504.shtml https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342492.shtml https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202509/1342519.shtml TWZ - J-35 set for naval service https://www.twz.com/air/chinas-j-35-naval-stealth-fighter-looks-set-for-service Reporting on Chinese HELs being used in Russia https://www.twz.com/news-features/chinese-laser-weapon-is-claimed-to-be-in-russian-service Included reporting on NATO HPM & HEL systems https://www.twz.com/heres-our-first-look-at-a-helios-laser-armed-navy-destroyer https://www.twz.com/news-features/british-high-power-microwave-weapon-successfully-tested-against-drone-swarms https://www.dote.osd.mil/Portals/97/pub/reports/FY2024/army/2024de_m-shorad.pdf?ver=aP_keA3PAt1C_pkWp_rAdQ%3D%3D CSIS- ChinaPower tracker https://chinapower.csis.org/tracker/china-gdp/ Ian Easton - China's Deceptively Weak (and Dangerous) military (2014) https://thediplomat.com/2014/01/chinas-deceptively-weak-and-dangerous-military/ SCMP on DF-5C https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325301/how-chinas-df-5c-nuclear-icbm-can-reach-anywhere-any-time Reporting on GL-6 test (Feb 2025) https://www.twz.com/land/chinese-tanks-active-protection-system-seen-intercepting-drone-fired-rocket-propelled-grenade Caveats & Comments: All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I note that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete examination of the topic and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other any other views and/or decisions. Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character. Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on. Timestamps: 00:00:00 — Opening Words 00:00:43 — What Am I Talking About? 00:01:19 — Background & Caveats 00:07:15 — Towards a Triad 00:18:37 — Next-gen Armour 00:29:05 — CUAS 00:37:22 — Carrier Aviation 00:45:49 — the Defence Economics Lens 00:52:30 — Channel Update