Dozens of armoured vehicles, artillery systems and rocket launchers have been transported into central Washington ahead of a military parade scheduled for 14 June to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States Army.
The event — the first of its kind in the US capital since 1991 — will also coincide with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Footage shared on social media on 7 June showed flatbed railcars loaded with heavy military equipment arriving in the capital. Among those who posted video documentation was Ostap Yarysh, a former journalist with Voice of America, who noted the event’s dual significance.
DC is preparing for a military parade next Saturday to mark the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, which coincides with Donald Trump’s 79th birthday. The parade will feature dozens of Abrams tanks, Bradley and Stryker IFVs, howitzers, and other heavy equipment.
📷 @BenjAlvarez1 pic.twitter.com/8n7uCgejAK
— Ostap Yarysh (@OstapYarysh) June 8, 2025
The parade, officially titled the “Grand Military Parade”, is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, 14 June. The route will start at 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue NW and conclude at 15th Street NW. President Trump is expected to attend and will review the procession from a stand located on the Ellipse.
According to the US Department of Defense the event will feature the following military hardware:
28 M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks
28 M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles
4 M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzers
8 CH-47 Chinook helicopters
16 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters
16 UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters
In addition to the mobile assets, a static display of precision-guided missiles will be presented. The event will also showcase the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) — a truck-mounted launcher capable of firing multiple guided rockets. HIMARS has been widely deployed in recent US operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.
Aerial displays are planned to include F-22 Raptor fighter jet flyovers and historic aircraft from the Second World War and Vietnam War. The total number of participating military personnel is expected to reach 7,000.
The event is estimated to cost around $45 million, with approximately one-third of that figure earmarked for post-event street repairs. Heavy vehicles such as tanks and howitzers are expected to place strain on city infrastructure, prompting logistical and safety preparations by local and federal agencies.
The parade also includes plans for Army parachutists to land at the event’s conclusion and present the American flag to President Trump, according to Pentagon sources cited by Axios.
While the US military regularly marks its anniversaries, large urban parades involving combat vehicles are unusual. The last major event of comparable scale took place in 1991 following the Gulf War. Critics have raised concerns about the political context of the parade, with some suggesting it fulfils a long-standing ambition of President Trump dating back to his first term.
In parallel with the parade, widespread counterprotests are planned. Organisers expect more than 1,500 demonstrations to take place across 1,400 US cities on the same day, in what is projected to be the largest coordinated protest against President Trump since the start of his presidency.
Tickets for public attendance at the parade have been made available by the US Army, with registration limited to two per person. Spectator bleachers and a concert stage are being erected along the route to accommodate the expected crowds.
As the US capital prepares for a high-profile military display on Constitution Avenue, attention is focused not only on the military pageantry but also on the broader political message of the event — both from the administration and its critics.
Photo: U.S. Army / Spc. Rebeca Soria. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Read also:
“Good Chat with a War Criminal”: Trump’s Silence on Russian Strike Plan Sparks Outrage
