PLA Rocket Force

PLA Rocket Force
Unit name	PLA Rocket Force
Native name	中国人民解放军火箭军
Caption	Emblem of the PLA Rocket Force
Founded	1 July 1966 (as the Second Artillery Corps); 31 December 2015 (renamed to Rocket Force)
Country	China
Branch	People's Liberation Army
Type	Strategic missile force
Role	Strategic deterrence, nuclear retaliation, conventional precision strikes
Size	≈ 100,000 personnel
Command structure	Central Military Commission
Garrison	Beijing
Current commander	General Wang Houbin
Notable commanders	General Zhang Yuxia, General Li Yuchao

PLA Rocket Force. It is the strategic and tactical missile force of the People's Liberation Army, responsible for China's land-based nuclear and conventional missile arsenal. Established originally as the Second Artillery Corps in 1966, it was elevated to a full military service in 2015, reflecting its paramount role in national defense. The force serves as the cornerstone of China's nuclear deterrence and provides long-range precision strike capabilities.

History and development

The origins trace to the late 1950s with assistance from the Soviet Union during the Sino-Soviet split, leading to the first successful test of the DF-1 missile. The unit was formally established on 1 July 1966 by order of Zhou Enlai and Lin Biao, operating under the General Staff Department during the Cold War. Its first live nuclear test was conducted with a missile launch at Lop Nur in 1966. For decades, it maintained a low-profile existence focused on survivability and a declared No first use policy. The watershed moment came in 2015, when President Xi Jinping announced its reorganization from the Second Artillery Corps into a full service, directly under the Central Military Commission, during a major military reform parade.

Organization and structure

The force is organized into several missile bases, each operating different missile brigades. Key bases include those headquartered in Hefei, Kunming, Xining, and Shenyang, covering all strategic directions. These bases command launch brigades, engineering units, and support regiments, with specialized institutes like the Rocket Force University of Engineering providing technical training. The structure is designed for centralized command but decentralized execution, with brigades dispersed across vast geographic areas in Central China, Tibet Autonomous Region, and Xinjiang to enhance survivability. Its leadership includes a commander, political commissar, and a dedicated staff department overseeing operations, equipment, and political work.

Equipment and capabilities

Its inventory comprises a diverse triad of land-based missile systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs), and cruise missiles. Key ICBMs include the silo-based DF-5 and the newer, road-mobile DF-41, capable of striking the continental United States. The DF-26 is a dual-capable system dubbed the "Guam Express," while the DF-21D is an anti-ship ballistic missile. For regional strikes, it deploys the DF-17 hypersonic glide vehicle and the CJ-10 land-attack cruise missile. These systems are supported by extensive Transporter erector launcher fleets, hardened silo fields, and a growing network of underground facilities known as the "Underground Great Wall" for enhanced survivability.

Role and strategic significance

Its primary role is to maintain a credible and reliable nuclear deterrent, ensuring a second-strike capability as part of China's national defense policy. This directly supports strategic stability vis-à-vis other nuclear powers like the United States and Russia. Concurrently, it provides conventional precision strike options for potential regional contingencies in the Taiwan Strait, East China Sea, and South China Sea, supporting Anti-access/area denial strategies. The force's modernization and expansion are central to China's military strategy as articulated in documents like the National Defense White Paper, influencing the security calculus across the Indo-Pacific region and within forums like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Training and exercises

Training emphasizes high-alert operations, rapid dispersal, and simulated launches under realistic combat conditions. Major exercises such as Stride and Firepower series are conducted in the Gobi Desert and the Plateau regions to test mobility and readiness. Personnel undergo rigorous drills in missile transportation, erector-launcher setup, and countdown procedures, often during extreme weather. Joint exercises with other People's Liberation Army services, like the Eastern Theater Command and Southern Theater Command, integrate missile strikes into broader operational plans. Training also heavily focuses on Cyber warfare defense and Electronic warfare to protect command networks.

Command and control

Ultimate authority resides with the Central Military Commission and its chairman, with strict protocols governing launch authority. The force maintains a dedicated command center, likely in the outskirts of Beijing, linked to launch units via redundant and secure communication systems, including Military satellite networks. The release of nuclear weapons would require orders transmitted through a sophisticated Permissive Action Link-like system, involving verification from the highest political leadership. This rigid command structure is designed to prevent accidental or unauthorized launches while ensuring responsiveness, a critical component of China's stated nuclear posture and its commitments under international arms control frameworks.

Category:Military of China Category:Strategic missile forces