This year's National Day Parade looks set to be bigger and better with more assets on display and more personnel from the military and Home teams taking part.

Military buffs, in particular, can look forward to about 40 pieces of defence hardware, including the Singapore Armed Forces' latest Light Strike Vehicle Mark II which will participate in the Dynamic Defence Display (D3). For the first time, a video paying special tribute to the operators behind the machines will also be screened. Details were revealed at a media briefing on Wednesday morning.

"This year we will showcase not only the hardware but also the 'heartware' behind D3 to thank those people who are at the frontline of Singapore's defence," said D3's chairman Colonel Dinesh Vasu Dash.

While the D3 will feature a modern force, the Parade & Ceremony (P&C) portion will be a traditional affair, with aerial flypasts and contingents marching in. In keeping with NDP's theme of "Many Stories, One Singapore", a photo montage of past presidential inspections and a video of Singaporeans sharing their stories will be shown.

P & C chairman, Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Simon Lee said: "Throughout our NDP 2013 journey, we've come across many Singaporeans who forgo precious weekends with their loved ones for rehearsals. Their dedication and commitment are truly inspirational."