Five new types of 108 missiles to be reviewed in National Day parade

During an exclusive interview on September 25, Yu Jixun, Deputy Commander of the Second Artillery Corps and deputy director at the parade headquarters, said that during the 60th Anniversary National Day parade, the Second Artillery Corps will set a record in the number of troops on parade, weapon types, and scale to show the new developments and achievements that the Chinese Army has made in the construction of strategic missile forces.

Rumbling tanks carry the long Heaven's Sword missiles, showing China's strength and boosting the Chinese army's morale amid the strong winds. China's Strategic Missile Forces will unveil its mysterious veil to the world once again. The equipped team, which will be last in the parade procession, will show five changes compared to the National Day parades in 1984 and 1999.

More missiles will show up. All of the missile weapons to be showcased during the parade are new types that will be publicly unveiled for the first time, including two types of different range surface-to-surface conventional missiles, one continent-based cruise missile, one conventional and one nuclear surface-to-surface intermediate-range missile, and one strategic intercontinental nuclear-capable missile. There will be a total of 108 missiles made up of these five new types, and five teams will take these 108 missiles to be reviewed. This means that China, which previously had only one type of missile, currently owns short, medium, and long-range missiles as well as intercontinental missiles.

Missiles have become smaller. Because a lot of liquid fuel propellant was used previously, missiles always had a large size. With the level of science and technology improving in China, the R&D and production of missiles have made historic progress, and the large-scale applications of solid fuel propellant have enabled smaller missiles to be made. These five missile types to be showcased during the parade, no matter nuclear or conventional, all used solid fuel propellant, and are therefore small in size yet very strong in power.

The missiles have become more powerful. The new missiles that will be on the parade are the embodiment of the technological developments of the Second Artillery Force in recent years. These new major advances in weaponry promote the Second Artillery Force in a comprehensive way in terms of command and control capabilities, quick-reaction, missile penetration, survival and defense and overall support capabilities.

The missile's precision has been improved. With recent technological innovations, China's strategic missile forces have been transformed from a single-mode to multi-mode missile force and automatic and intelligent, precision-guided munitions are now possible. All these mark a breakthrough in the campaign patterns and combat effectiveness of China's strategic missile forces.

Mobile launch capabilities have become quicker. Since the end of last century, the Second Artillery Force has carried out mobile launch training across the region. Using the new missile types, exercises, such as continuous missile tests and changes to the missile delivery systems, are now conducted scientifically. Wherever it is located, in the mountains or in the desert, the missiles can be launched from a mobile launcher which is able to use any roads available. Besides, it can be launched from nearly any location, comprehensively controlled and be ready to strike at any moment.

At the parade ground, the Second Artillery Force strives for elaborative design, careful preparation, accurate implementation, and an excellent appearance, and abides by the standards of being strict and scientific as well as workmanlike and sturdy. Keeping their historical mission in mind and taking on all potential difficulties, the Second Artillery Force will receive the review in the best spirit.

Translated by LOTO