People's Liberation Army Rocket Force

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"Strategic Missile Force" redirects here. For the Soviet and Russian Strategic Missile Forces, see Strategic Missile Troops.
People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Emblem of People's Liberation Army Rocket Force.png
Emblem of People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Active 1966–2015 (Second Artillery Corps)
2016–present (Rocket Force)
Country  People's Republic of China
Allegiance Flag of the Chinese Communist Party.svg Communist Party of China[1]
Type Tactical and strategic missile force
Role Strategic deterrence, second strike
Size 100,000 personnel
Part of People's Liberation Army
Headquarters Qinghe, Haidian District, Beijing, China
Colors              Red, gold, dark green
March "March of the Rocket Force" (《火箭军进行曲》)
Equipment Ballistic missiles, cruise missiles
Engagements Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
Commanders
Commander Lt. General Zhou Yaning
Political Commissar General Wang Jiasheng
Insignia
Flag Rocket Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Badge PLARF.svg

The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, formerly the Second Artillery Corps (SAC) , is the strategic and tactical missile forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLARF is a component part of the People's Liberation Army and controls the nation's arsenal of land-based ballistic missiles - both (thermo)nuclear and conventional. The military arm was established on 1 July 1966 and made its first public appearance on 1 October 1984. The headquarters for operations is located at Qinghe, Beijing. The PLARF is under the direct command of the Chinese Central Military Commission.

In total, China is estimated to be in possession of 260 nuclear warheads, with an unknown number of them active and ready to deploy.[2] However, as of 2013, United States Intelligence estimates the Chinese active ICBM arsenal to range between 50 and 75 land and sea-based missiles.[3] The PLARF comprises approximately 100,000 personnel and six ballistic missile brigades. The six brigades are independently deployed in different military regions throughout the country. Presently, It has 1,833 ballistic missiles and 350 cruise missiles in its arsenal.

The name was changed to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force on 1 January 2016.[4] Several reports have suggested that the PLARF may control the whole triad of China's nuclear missiles, including sea-based ballistic missiles.[5][6]

China has the largest land-based missile arsenal in the world. According to Pentagon estimates, this includes 1,200 conventionally armed short-range ballistic missiles, two hundred to three hundred conventional medium-range ballistic missiles and an unknown number of conventional intermediate-range ballistic missiles, as well as two to three hundred ground-launched cruise missiles. Many of these are extremely accurate, which would allow them to destroy targets even without nuclear warheads.[7]

History[edit]

Further information: China and weapons of mass destruction

In the late 1980s, China was the world's third-largest nuclear power, possessing a small but credible nuclear deterrent force of approximately 100 to 400 nuclear weapons. Beginning in the late 1970s, China deployed a full range of nuclear weapons and acquired a nuclear second-strike capability. The nuclear forces were operated by the 100,000-person Strategic Missile Force, which was controlled directly by the Joint staff.

China began developing nuclear weapons in the late 1950s with substantial Soviet assistance. When Sino-Soviet relations cooled in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Soviet Union withheld plans and data for an atomic bomb, abrogated the agreement on transferring defense and nuclear technology, and began the withdrawal of Soviet advisers in 1960. Despite the termination of Soviet assistance, China committed itself to continue nuclear weapons development to break "the superpowers' monopoly on nuclear weapons," to ensure Chinese security against the Soviet and United States threats, and to increase Chinese prestige and power internationally.

China made fast progress in the 1960s in developing nuclear weapons. In a 32-month period, China successfully tested its first atomic bomb on October 16, 1964 at Lop Nor, launched its first nuclear missile on October 25, 1966 and detonated its first hydrogen bomb on June 14, 1967. Deployment of the Dongfeng-1 conventionally armed short-range ballistic missile and the Dongfeng-2 (CSS-1) medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) occurred in the 1960s. The Dongfeng-3 (CCS-2) intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) was successfully tested in 1969. Although the Cultural Revolution disrupted the strategic weapons program less than other scientific and educational sectors in China, there was a slowdown in succeeding years.

Gansu hosted a missile launching area.[8] China destroyed 9 U-2 surveillance craft while two went missing when they attempted to spy on it.[9]

In the 1970s the nuclear weapons program saw the development of MRBM, IRBM and ICBMs and marked the beginning of a deterrent force. China continued MRBM deployment, began deploying the Dongfeng-3 IRBM and successfully tested and commenced deployment of the Dongfeng-4 (CSS-4) limited-range ICBM.

By 1980 China had overcome the slowdown in nuclear development caused by the Cultural Revolution and had successes in its strategic weapons program. In 1980 China successfully test launched its full-range ICBM, the Dongfeng-5 (CCS-4); the missile flew from central China to the Western Pacific, where it was recovered by a naval task force. The Dongfeng-5 possessed the capability to hit targets in the western Soviet Union and the United States. In 1981 China launched three satellites into space orbit from a single launch vehicle, indicating that China might possess the technology to develop multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles (MIRVs). China also launched the Xia-class SSBN in 1981, and the next year it conducted its first successful test launch of the CSS-NX-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile. In addition to the development of a sea-based nuclear force, China began considering the development of tactical nuclear weapons. PLA exercises featured the simulated use of tactical nuclear weapons in offensive and defensive situations beginning in 1982. Reports of Chinese possession of tactical nuclear weapons had remained unconfirmed in 1987.

In 1986 China possessed a credible deterrent force with land, sea and air elements. Land-based forces included ICBMs, IRBMs, and MRBMs. The sea-based strategic force consisted of SSBNs. The Air Force's bombers were capable of delivering nuclear bombs but would be unlikely to penetrate the sophisticated air defenses of modern military powers.

China's nuclear forces, in combination with the PLA's conventional forces, served to deter both nuclear and conventional attacks on the Chinese lands. Chinese leaders pledged to not use nuclear weapons first (no first use), but pledged to absolutely counter-attack with nuclear weapons if nuclear weapons are used against China. China envisioned retaliation against strategic and tactical attacks and would probably strike countervalue rather than counterforce targets. The combination of China's few nuclear weapons and technological factors such as range, accuracy, and response time limited the effectiveness of nuclear strikes against counterforce targets. China has been seeking to increase the credibility of its nuclear retaliatory capability by dispersing and concealing its nuclear forces in difficult terrain, improving their mobility, and hardening its missile silos.

The CJ-10 long-range cruise missile made its first public appearance during the military parade on the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China; the CJ-10 represents the next generation in rocket weapons technology in the PLA.

In late 2009, it was reported that the Corps was constructing a 5000 km-long underground launch and storage facility for nuclear missiles in the Hebei province.[10] 47 News reported that the facility was likely located in the Taihang Mountains.[11]

On 9 January 2014, a Chinese hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) referred to as the WU-14 was allegedly spotted flying at high speeds over the country. The flight was confirmed by the Pentagon as a hypersonic missile delivery vehicle capable of penetrating the U.S. missile defense system and delivering nuclear warheads. The WU-14 is reportedly designed to be launched as the final stage of a Chinese ICBM traveling at Mach 10, or 12,360 km/h (7,680 mph). Two Chinese technical papers from December 2012 and April 2013 show the country has concluded hypersonic weapons pose "a new aerospace threat" and that they are developing satellite directed precision guidance systems. China is the third country to enter the "hypersonic arms race" after Russia and the United States. Russia is jointly developing with India the Mach 6 (7,300 km/h (4,500 mph)) scramjet-powered Brahmos-II. The U.S. Air Force has flown the X-51A Waverider technology demonstrator and the U.S. Army has flight tested the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon.[12] China later confirmed the successful test flight of a "hypersonic missile delivery vehicle," but claimed it was part of a scientific experiment and not aimed at a target.[13]

US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center estimating that by 2022 the number of Chinese ICBM nuclear warheads capable of reaching the United States could expand to well over 100.[14]

Missile ranges[edit]

  • Maximum ranges for China’s conventional SRBM force (2006).

  • Medium and intercontinental range ballistic missiles (2007).

Active missiles[edit]

DF-21 IRBM
Further information: Dongfeng (missile)

Intercontinental ballistic missile[edit]

[15]

Intermediate-range ballistic missile[edit]

Medium-range ballistic missile[edit]

Short-range ballistic missile[edit]

Cruise missile[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ "The PLA Oath" (PDF). I am a member of the People's Liberation Army. I promise that I will follow the leadership of the Communist Party of China... 
  2. ^ "Federation of American Scientists: Status of World Nuclear Forces". Fas.org. 2014. Retrieved 2014-05-26. 
  3. ^ 2013 China report, defense.gov
  4. ^ China's nuclear policy, strategy consistent: spokesperson, news.xinhuanet.com
  5. ^ http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/the-new-military-force-in-charge-of-chinas-nuclear-weapons/
  6. ^ Fisher, Richard D., Jr. (6 January 2016). "China establishes new Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force". Jane's Defence Weekly. Surrey, UK: Jane's Information Group. 53 (9). ISSN 0265-3818. This report also quotes Chinese expert Song Zhongping saying that the Rocket Force could incorporate 'PLA sea-based missile unit[s] and air-based missile unit[s]'. 
  7. ^ http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/missile-strikes-us-bases-asia-chinas-real-threat-america-21714
  8. ^ Ben R. Rich; Leo Janos (26 February 2013). Skunk Works: A Personal Memoir of My Years of Lockheed. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-24693-4. 
  9. ^ Robin D. S. Higham (2003). One Hundred Years of Air Power and Aviation. Texas A&M University Press. pp. 228–. ISBN 978-1-58544-241-6. 
  10. ^ http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/12/14/2009121400292.html
  11. ^ 47 News, "China Builds Enormous Missile Base/ 5000 KM Long Underground?", February 4, 2010.
  12. ^ China has successfully tested its first hypersonic missile - Armyrecognition.com, 14 January 2014
  13. ^ China confirms test of "hypersonic missile delivery vehicle" - Flightglobal.com, 16 January 2014
  14. ^ http://www.nasic.af.mil/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=F2VLcKSmCTE%3d&portalid=19
  15. ^ "Pentagon Report And Chinese Nuclear Forces". Federation of American Scientists. 

Sources[edit]

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

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