A new type of surface-to-surface intermediate and long-range missiles rumbled past the Tian'anmen Rostrum Thursday morning.

This type of missiles of DF series can be armed with either nuclear or conventional warheads, military experts say.

Painted in camouflage color, they were carried by 18 mobile launchers when a full-dress military parade marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was put under international spotlight.

Yu Jixun, Deputy Commander of the PLA Second Artillery Force, said the new-type surface-to-surface intermediate and long-range missiles are "major weapons in winning information-based warfare."

Military sources say it "shoulders the mission of curbing war threat and safeguarding state sovereignty."

(Xinhua News Agency October 1, 2009)