Army officials are preparing to display rocket launchers and missiles along with more than a hundred military aircraft and vehicles next weekend at the D.C. parade celebrating the Army’s 250th anniversary, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: President Trump has envisioned the June 14 parade — which is scheduled on his 79th birthday — as a show of U.S. military might.
There also will be a static display of precision-guided missiles, the officials said, and a flyover by F-22 fighter jets.
About 7,000 military personnel will be involved in the parade, which will run along Constitution Avenue NW.
By the numbers: The parade will include 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks, 28 M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and four Paladin Howitzers.
Next weekend, Army officials plan to showcase over a hundred military vehicles and aircraft at the D.C, along with rocket launchers and missiles. Axios has learned that the Army is having a parade to commemorate its 250th anniversary.
Why it matters: The June 14 parade, which falls on his 79th birthday, is intended to serve as a demonstration of U.S. A. military power. .
Zoom in: The event’s detractors have voiced concerns about the imagery and the potential harm that large military vehicles could cause to the city’s streets, as such a display of military hardware is uncommon in the US.
Officials, however, are keen to present U. S. weaponry like the rocket-launching High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
Egypt, Iraq, and Syria have all made use of the launchers.
According to the officials, there will also be a flyover by F-22 fighter jets and a static display of precision-guided missiles.
Along Constitution Avenue NW, the parade will feature roughly 7,000 military personnel. Approximately one-third of the estimated $45 million will go toward post-parade street cleaning.
Zoom out: From 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW to 15th and Constitution Avenue NW, the parade will start at 6:30 p.m.
The Ellipse will serve as Trump’s review stand.
“When the president took office on January,” they are saying. 20 He expressed his desire to dot. emphasize the US Army as the first branch of the US military established by the US Republic, and he aimed to provide the U.S. A. U.S. Ambassador Monica Crowley, chief of protocol, told Axios, “We’re giving the Army a very special birthday parade.”.
In terms of numbers, there will be four Paladin Howitzers, 28 M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, and 28 M1A1 Abrams tanks in the procession.
According to officials, there will be 16 AH-64 Apache helicopters, 16 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, and eight CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
Aircraft from the Vietnam and World War II eras are also scheduled to fly over.
