Fifteen formations of armored vehicles from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) rumbled past Beijing's Tian'anmen Square Thursday.

The armored vehicle show was the biggest and most varied in the history of the National Day military parades since Oct. 1, 1949, when the People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded.

It was also the first appearance of the 05 amphibious assault vehicle, the 05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, 03 airborne fighting vehicles and 08 wheeled armored vehicles of the Armed Police Force in China's National Day military parades.

The first block was composed of Chinese-made new 99 Main Battle Tanks (MBT). They rolled into Tian'anmen Square in an arrow formation, symbolizing "victory." The MBTs with their high maneuver ability, firepower, observation and communication capabilities can operate in a wide variety of terrains and climates.

The "Red Army regiment," which is stationed at the foot of Taihang Mountain and equipped with the third-generation MBT, reflects the modernization of the PLA.

The armored vehicles on show also included 05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, which have a high state of maneuver ability and firepower, and the 03 airborne fighting vehicles, with three-way positioning and navigation systems.

China's airborne troops have various arms, covering long-distance mobilization, heavy cargo airdrop, parachuting and air-landing. The troops have become a significant strategic force.

China's armored forces were established in 1945 with just a single Japanese-made tank, captured from the Japanese army.

With the rapid development of information technology, the PLA speeded up its modernization with an increased focus on mechanization and informatization. The PLA has announced that it will reach its goal of "informationized" armed forces capable of winning informationized wars by the mid-21st Century.

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)