Nearly half of the weapons were new or modified versions that had hardly been shown in public before.

Among them were the HQ-9B surface-to-air missiles capable of intercepting enemy tactic ballistic missiles, and the HQ-22 SAM missile designed to intercept fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles.

Also on display included the YJ-83K air-to-ship missiles, which can operate in all weathers and at all altitudes, and deliver precision strikes on multiple, beyond-visual-range targets. YJ-83K is design to mainly strike medium- to large-size surface vessels and flotillas.

But the highlight of the parade was the host of conventional and nuclear missiles from the PLA's newly established Rocket Force, which rumbled past a camouflaged stand where Chinese leader Xi Jinping watched the parade.

They include the Dongfeng-26 ballistic missile, which can be fired at short notice and fitted with a nuclear warhead, the Dongfeng-21D land-based anti-ship ballistic missiles described by some as the "carrier killer," and the Dongfeng-16G conventional missile designed for precision strikes against key enemy targets.

Also on display were two types of solid-fuel inter-continental strategic nuclear missiles.

The armaments and aircraft were arranged in nine combat groups.

Conventional and nuclear missiles from the Rocket Force were grouped in the strategic strike group.

The counter-terrorism and stability maintenance group, meanwhile, consisted of 168 members of the "Falcon Commando Unit," an elite police counter-terror brigade under the Special Police Academy of the Chinese People's Armed Police Force, who rode on China's latest anti-terror assault vehicles for the president's inspection.

Previous National Day parades only distinguished the participating troop formations as ground armament formations and air echelons.

In the 2015 V-Day parade dedicated to mark China's victory over Japanese invaders during WWII, armament formations were arranged based on their actual combat roles.