If you’ve been scouring YouTube or TikTok lately for a military parade 2025 video, you’ve probably noticed something weird. The search results are a mess. Between AI-generated "future war" clickbait and grainy re-uploads from 2019, finding the actual footage of this year's massive geopolitical flexes is harder than it should be.
This wasn't just any year for marching boots. 2025 turned out to be the "Year of the 80th," marking eight decades since the end of World War II. From Beijing to Moscow, and a surprising 250th-anniversary bash in Washington D.C., the hardware on display wasn't just for show. It was a message.
The Massive Beijing Display: More Than Just Missiles
On September 3, 2025, Beijing basically shut down. If you saw the military parade 2025 video from Tiananmen Square, you saw the "Nuclear Triad" in a way China has never shown it before. For the first time, they lined up land-based ICBMs, sub-launched missiles, and air-dropped assets in one continuous sequence.
It was loud. It was intimidating.
President Xi Jinping didn't just stand there alone, either. In a scene that set diplomatic cables on fire, he was flanked by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. This was the first time the three of them stood together at a military event of this scale. The footage shows them chatting like old friends while the DF-61 and the "Guam Killer" DF-26D rolled past.
Experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) noted that the 2025 parade wasn't a historical tribute. It was a "strategic ace." They showed off:
✨ Don't miss: Why the Air France Crash Toronto Miracle Still Changes How We Fly
- Hypersonic glide vehicles that look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
- Underwater combat drones (UUVs) that are terrifyingly sleek.
- Swarm drone tech that basically makes traditional radar look obsolete.
Moscow’s 80th Victory Day: Defiance in High Definition
The May 9, 2025, Red Square parade was... different. Despite three years of heavy conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin pulled out all the stops for the 80th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany.
The military parade 2025 video from Moscow shows over 11,000 soldiers. But the real story was the guest list. Nearly 30 world leaders showed up, including Brazil's Lula and Venezuela's Maduro. It was a visual "middle finger" to Western isolation efforts.
Interestingly, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov broke tradition. He showed up in a civilian suit and tie instead of the usual gold-braided uniform. It felt like a corporate takeover of the military-industrial complex. The mechanized column was led by the legendary T-34 tank—a WWII relic—followed by modern drones and electronic warfare units that have become the backbone of their current strategy.
America’s 250th: The Surprise in D.C.
Most people don't associate the U.S. with massive military parades. We usually leave that to others. But June 14, 2025, was the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday.
Constitution Avenue turned into a sea of OD green and camouflage. If you find the official military parade 2025 video from this event, look for the 70-ton Abrams tanks. Seeing those beasts roll past the Smithsonian is a rare sight.
🔗 Read more: Robert Hanssen: What Most People Get Wrong About the FBI's Most Damaging Spy
President Trump gave a speech focused on "restored readiness." It wasn't just about old glory; they featured the "Golden Knights" parachute team and flyovers from the latest stealth tech. It felt more like a recruitment festival than a show of force, but the sheer scale of 6,000 soldiers marching through the capital was something the U.S. hasn't seen in decades.
Where the "Fake" Videos Are Coming From
Honestly, you’ve got to be careful. A lot of the content labeled as "2025 military parade" is actually footage from video games like Arma 3 or Digital Combat Simulator.
Why? Because real military footage is often restricted or low-res when it's leaked. Creators use high-end game engines to "recreate" what they think the new North Korean Hwasong-20 looks like.
Speaking of North Korea, their October 10 parade for the 80th anniversary of the Workers' Party was wild. They debuted the Hwasong-20 ICBM. It sits on an 11-axle launcher. Eleven. That thing is a monster. The video shows it moving through Kim Il Sung Square at night, bathed in orange floodlights. It’s peak North Korean aesthetic—grand, terrifying, and probably a little bit exaggerated.
What to Look For in a Real Video
If you want the real deal, stop clicking on the ones with red arrows and "OMG" in the thumbnail.
💡 You might also like: Why the Recent Snowfall Western New York State Emergency Was Different
- Check the sky: Look at the weather. The Moscow 2025 parade had a specific overcast look followed by a ceasefire order.
- Look at the guests: If you see Xi, Putin, and Kim together, that’s the September 3 Beijing footage. If it’s just Putin and a few Central Asian leaders, that’s May in Moscow.
- The Indonesian Connection: Random fact—Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was everywhere in 2025. He was the chief guest at India's Republic Day in January and had a massive contingent in Paris for Bastille Day. If you see Indonesian drummers in a military parade 2025 video, it's likely the Paris or New Delhi footage.
Why This Matters Right Now
Parades aren't just about shiny toys. They are "signaling." When China shows its nuclear triad, it's telling the U.S. to stay out of the South China Sea. When Russia invites 30 leaders, it's telling the G7 that the "Global South" is with them.
Watching these videos gives you a raw look at the hardware that usually stays hidden in silos and hangars. It’s the one day a year these nations let the satellites (and your phone screen) see what they’ve actually been building.
How to Find the Best Footage
To get the highest quality, skip the "Best Moments" compilations. Search for the raw livestreams from:
- CCTV (for the Beijing Victory Day).
- RT or Sputnik (for the Moscow Red Square event).
- The Pentagon’s DVIDS hub (for the U.S. Army 250th).
- Doordarshan (for India’s Republic Day).
Don't just watch the tanks. Watch the faces of the soldiers. The 2025 parades showed a lot of "new-domain" troops—cyber warriors and drone pilots marching alongside traditional infantry. It’s a transition year for every major military on the planet.
For the most authentic experience, look for 4K "No Commentary" versions. They let you hear the actual roar of the engines and the rhythmic thud of thousands of boots. That's where the real power—and the real story—actually lies.
Next Steps for Your Research:
Start by searching for the "Beijing 80th Anniversary Victory Day Full Stream" on official news archives. This will give you the unedited 3-hour footage of the most significant military display of the decade. Pay close attention to the 45-minute mark, where the unmanned "swarms" make their first public appearance.