August 1, 2026 marks the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. This year's Army Day holds special significance as it falls during the critical year toward achieving the PLA's centenary goals — the deadline President Xi Jinping has set for the force to become a world-class military. [1]
A promotional documentary titled "Zhisheng" (Victory), released for Army Day, unveiled footage of robotic wolves carrying shoulder-fired rocket launchers as they crossed beach obstacles during an assault drill. The series also showed the launch of tactical missiles from the Type 191 long-range rocket artillery, the firing of decoy flares from the Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan, and live-fire strikes by the KVD002 reconnaissance-strike integrated unmanned aerial vehicle. [1]
The equipment unveiled is the signal. The robotic wolves with shoulder-fired rockets, Type 191 rocket artillery, and Type 076 decoy flares are capabilities the paper notes against the backdrop of the Iran conflict and Taiwan tensions. Xi's emphasis on "leapfrog development" and political rectification frames the modernization as ideological, not just technical. [2]
The Sichuan, the lead ship of the Type 076 amphibious assault ship class, has a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons and innovatively applies electromagnetic catapult and arrestor technologies, enabling it to carry fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and amphibious equipment. The ship has successfully completed multiple sea trials. [2]
Military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times that the Type 191 features long range, high precision, rapid response, broad firepower coverage, and combined point-and-area strike capabilities. The public release of footage showing large-caliber rocket firing "marks the maturation of its combat capabilities," he said. [2]
At the V-Day military parade on September 3, 2025, China officially debuted its nuclear triad capability for the first time, along with the DF-5C intercontinental ballistic missile with global strike coverage. The development of the H-20 new-type long-range strategic bomber is also worth monitoring, with next year's centenary potentially significant. [1]