China’s PLA Parade Rehearsals Hint at Deployment of Smart Glasses

Reports from augmented reality (AR) industry insiders suggest the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) may have officially begun deploying smart glasses across its forces. During rehearsals for the upcoming September 3rd military parade in Beijing, observers noted a tank commander equipped with what appeared to be advanced AR-enabled eyewear.

The detail is significant because parade regulations require that all equipment on display must already be in active service. This implies that smart glasses—long rumored to be under development for battlefield applications—have moved beyond testing to operational deployment in at least some PLA units.

For China, the integration of wearable AR technology aligns with its broader push to digitize the battlefield through AI, 5G connectivity, and real-time data links. Such glasses could enhance situational awareness for commanders, overlay targeting or navigational data, and improve coordination during maneuvers.

By contrast, the U.S. military—despite years of trials with Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS)—has yet to field smart glasses on a large scale, owing to delays and performance setbacks. The PLA’s apparent adoption therefore highlights a potential edge in wearable tech integration, at least in terms of timing.

As the parade approaches, international defense analysts will be watching closely to see what other subtle signals China may send about its technological priorities on the modern battlefield.