Second Artillery Corps

Second Artillery Corps. It was the strategic missile force of the People's Liberation Army, established in 1966 to centralize control of China's land-based nuclear and conventional missile arsenal. Operating as an independent branch, it was responsible for the nation's nuclear deterrent and long-range precision strike capabilities. The corps was reorganized and elevated into the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force in 2015 as part of broader military reforms under Xi Jinping.

History

The unit was founded on July 1, 1966, by order of Central Military Commission Chairman Mao Zedong, during a period of heightened tension amidst the Cold War and the Sino-Soviet split. Its creation followed the successful detonation of China's first atomic bomb in 1964 at the Lop Nur test site, a project heavily influenced by scientists like Qian Xuesen. Initially reliant on limited numbers of DF-1 and DF-2 missiles, the force developed through key programs such as the Project 571 and later modernization efforts in the post-Deng Xiaoping era. Its existence was a state secret for many years, only being publicly acknowledged in the 1980s. The corps underwent significant technological advancement following the 1995–1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, which highlighted the need for modern conventional missile forces. Its final transformation occurred under the sweeping military reforms initiated by Xi Jinping, leading to its redesignation as the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force in December 2015.

Organization

The corps was directly subordinate to the Central Military Commission and the PLA General Staff Department, with its headquarters located in Beijing. It was organized into several missile bases spread across China, such as those historically headquartered in Hefei, Kunming, and Xining, each controlling multiple missile brigades. These brigades were specialized by missile type, operating launch units, technical support battalions, and security regiments. Key supporting institutions included the Second Artillery Engineering University in Xi'an for officer training and various research institutes like the China Academy of Engineering Physics. The structure emphasized centralized command and control, with political oversight maintained through the PLA General Political Department and its internal Second Artillery Political Department.

Equipment and capabilities

The arsenal evolved from early liquid-fueled, silo-based missiles like the DF-4 and DF-5 to a diverse mix of solid-fueled, road-mobile systems. Its nuclear deterrent relied on intercontinental ballistic missiles such as the DF-5 and later the DF-31 and DF-41. For regional missions, it deployed a large inventory of conventional ballistic missiles, most notably the DF-15 and DF-21 series, with the latter famously dubbed the "carrier killer." The corps also integrated land-attack cruise missiles like the CJ-10. Support systems included sophisticated reconnaissance satellite networks, Over-the-horizon radar, and major secure communications projects like the Great Wall Project. This equipment was deployed from hardened underground facilities, known as the "Underground Great Wall," and mobile transporter-erector-launchers operating across vast geographic areas.

Role and missions

Its primary mission was to serve as the cornerstone of China's Nuclear deterrence strategy, maintaining a credible second-strike capability against adversaries like the United States and Russia. A major secondary role, greatly expanded after the 1990s, was conducting conventional precision strikes, particularly in potential scenarios involving Taiwan or the South China Sea. The corps was tasked with achieving local air and sea denial through anti-access/area denial strategies, targeting assets such as United States Navy carrier battle groups. It also played a key role in strategic coercion and signaling during crises, while supporting broader People's Liberation Army joint operations. All operational planning and launch authority were tightly controlled by the Central Military Commission in Beijing.

Commanders

Notable commanders included General Jing Zhiyuan, who led the corps during a period of significant modernization in the 2000s. General Wei Fenghe served as its final commander before its transition to the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, later becoming China's Minister of National Defense. Other key leaders were General Yang Guoliang and General Zhang Gongliang, who oversaw critical phases of development and expansion. Several of its senior officers, such as Liu Yazhou, also held prominent positions within the PLA National Defence University. The political commissars, including Zhang Haiyang and Peng Xiaofeng, were equally influential figures, ensuring ideological control over the strategic force.

Category:Military units and formations of the People's Liberation Army Category:Strategic missile forces Category:Military history of China