Multiple New Weapons Debut at the 9/3 Military Parade: A Look at the Advanced Polymers Behind Major National Armaments
On September 3rd, a ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War will be held at Tiananmen Square in Beijing. A 70-minute military parade will be conducted, featuring 45 formations, including an aerial flag escort formation, a battle flag formation, an equipment formation, and an aerial formation, showcasing China's achievements in defense technology.
△Rehearsal site for the September 3rd military parade (Image source: CCTV)
According to the Ministry of National Defense press conference and reports from multiple media outlets, all the equipment in this parade consists of domestically produced, active-duty main battle weapons, many of which are being publicly displayed for the first time. The main highlights focus on unmanned combat units, information warfare units, hypersonic missiles, intelligent armored forces, and so on.
The following are some of the new types of equipment that may appear in this parade.
Hypersonic missile
Unmanned Systems / Counter-Unmanned Equipment
Strategic missile systems and air defense anti-missile systems
HQ-20 Air Defense Missile System
Domestic aircraft carrier "Fujian"
Y-20B large transport aircraft
Giant Underwater Unmanned Submersible
Triangle Nine Three military parade rehearsal site. (Image source: Phoenix Satellite TV)
Behind these "great power devices" lies not only innovation at the platform and system levels but also the silent support of a group of high polymer materials known as the "invisible heroes."
In hypersonic weapons, carbon-carbon composites and polymer-based high-temperature resistant composites become the core, enabling them to withstand thousands of degrees Celsius of aerodynamic heating, ensuring structural stability and flight safety.
In terms of aviation equipment, drones and next-generation fighter jets generally use carbon fiber composite structures, which reduce the weight of the aircraft while enhancing stealth performance and maneuverability.
Land combat equipment and individual soldier protection rely more on high-performance fiber materials. Aramid and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, with their excellent strength and energy absorption properties, are widely used in tank linings, bulletproof vests, and helmets, effectively enhancing overall protection levels.
Meanwhile, the new generation of stealth warships and stealth aircraft rely on advanced radar-absorbing coatings and wave-transparent composite materials to significantly reduce radar signatures, achieving "invisibility" in combat environments.
It can be said that without the advancement of materials science, there would not be these advanced weapons and equipment today.
Next, let's review how polymer materials have gradually contributed to the modernization of China's national defense over the past 80 years.
01
The Initial Stage (1950s–1970s):
From rubber to missile fuel "propellant"
In the early days after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the application of polymer materials in weaponry was still in its infancy. Synthetic rubber was mainly used in the tires and sealing rings of tanks and military vehicles, addressing issues of wear resistance and sealing. Nylon fabrics were made into parachutes and camouflage nets, providing the troops with basic mobility and camouflage capabilities.
The real turning point was the application of domestically produced liquid oxygen propellant in the Dongfeng-1 missile, which led to the successful launch of the "Dongfeng-1" on November 5, 1960. This marked China's military industry entering the era of rockets and missiles.
02
Maturity stage (1980s–1990s)
Aramid and Wave-Absorbing Materials Debut
During this period, China gradually carried out research and development of aramid, high-performance fibers, and radar-absorbing materials.
Aramid fibers are mainly used in the manufacture of bulletproof vests, bulletproof helmets, and other products. They were first developed during the Cold War period in the 1960s, and DuPont company took the lead in industrial production of aramid fibers in the 1970s.
In contrast, China started relatively late in the aramid field, with research and pilot production of para-aramid beginning around 1986 through a joint effort by the Donghua University Chemical Fiber Research Institute, Chenguang Chemical Research Institute, Shanghai Synthetic Fiber Research Institute, and Shenyang Hongxing Sealing Materials Factory.
Due to limitations in resources and costs, the industrialization of aramid fibers progressed slowly at that time, but this also laid the foundation for subsequent efforts in domestic production.
In addition, China also conducted related research and development on UHMWPE (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) fibers and radar-absorbing materials at this time.
03
Rapid Development (since the 2000s):
Composite materials, stealth materials, and bulletproof materials show their skills.
Since the beginning of the new century, composite materials, stealth materials, and bulletproof materials have begun to be widely used in main combat equipment.
The Z-10 and Z-20 helicopters use carbon fiber blades to reduce weight and extend lifespan; the body structure of the Wing Loong UAV adopts carbon fiber to enhance endurance and payload.
The radar dome of the KJ-500 AWACS uses transmittance composite materials to ensure smooth radar signal transmission.
The DF-17 warhead uses carbon-carbon/polymer matrix high-temperature resistant composite materials to withstand aerodynamic heating of over a thousand degrees Celsius.
The new type of vessel uses composite material portholes and radomes to improve wave transmission and weather resistance, meeting the needs of ocean-going operations.
Stealth material applications are becoming more widespread. For example, the J-20 stealth fighter uses domestically produced stealth coatings and structurally absorptive composite materials; the hull of the Type 055 destroyer is coated with absorptive materials to reduce radar cross-section.
In addition, the new generation of bulletproof vests and helmets use aramid fiber + UHMWPE composite layers, making them lighter and providing stronger protection; the housings of individual radios and sights use PEEK and polyimide, ensuring lightweight and high-temperature resistance.
Source: DT New Materials
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