CHINA SHOWS OFF SECRET 'CARRIER-KILLER' MISSILE AT VICTORY DAY PARADE [PHOTOS]

As anticipated, China trotted out its Dongfeng-21D, or DF-21D, anti-ship missile at its Victory Day parade on Thursday.

Dongfeng translates to "East Wind," and the "D" is the fourth iteration of the missile developed by China's Changfeng Mechanics and Electronics Technology Academy.

China's defence ministry kept quiet about the missile, only confirming its development in 2011, and experts say that its ability to travel faster than 10 times the speed of sound means it can outrun counter missiles trying to intercept it.

The weapon is a honing missile, so it can lock on a large target such as an aircraft carrier and destroy it in one hit. It has an estimated range of up to 1,450 km (900 miles). Gettyimages-486261596

The DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile launchers move through Tiananmen Square.

Chinese soldiers stand at attention in Tiananmen Square.
Retired veterans at the parade.
Shen Jilan wearing insignias and medals. Shen, 85, is the only person in China to be elected 12 consecutive times as a member of China's parliament, after she was appointed to China's first National People's Congress (NPC) in 1954.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stands in a car to review the army during the parade.
Chinese soldiers marching in the military parade.
Chinese soldiers marching in the military parade.
Military vehicles carrying DF-31A long-range missiles drive.
Military vehicles carrying shore-to-ship missiles.
Military vehicles carrying DF-26 ballistic missiles.
Chinese soldiers march past the Great Hall of the People
Chinese fighter planes fly in formation over Tiananmen Square
Thousands of doves are released at the end of the parade.