People's Liberation Army Rocket Force

"Strategic Missile Force" redirects here. For the Soviet and Russian Strategic Missile Forces, see Strategic Rocket Forces.

The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force,^[a] formerly the Second Artillery Corps,^[b] is the strategic and tactical missile force of the People's Republic of China. The PLARF is the 4th branch of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and controls China's arsenal of land-based ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missiles—both nuclear and conventional. The armed service branch 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 Communist Party's Central Military Commission (CMC).

People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
中国人民解放军火箭军
Emblem of the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force
Active	1 July 1966; 57 years ago (1966-07-01)
Country	People's Republic of China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party^[1]
Type	Tactical and strategic missile force
Role	Strategic deterrence Second strike
Size	120,000 active personnel
Part of	People's Liberation Army
Headquarters	Qinghe, Haidian, Beijing, China
March	火箭军进行曲 ("March of the Rocket Force")
Equipment	Ballistic missiles Cruise missiles Hypersonic glide vehicles
Engagements	Third Taiwan Strait Crisis
Website	Official website
Commanders
Commander	General Wang Houbin
Political Commissar	General Xu Xisheng
Chief of Staff	General Sun Jinming
Notable commanders	General Wei Fenghe
Insignia
Flag
Badge
Sleeve badge

The PLARF comprises approximately 120,000 personnel and six ballistic missile "bases" (units at roughly corps or army group level). The six bases are independently deployed in the five Theaters throughout China.^{[2][3][needs update]}

The name was changed from the PLA Second Artillery Corps to the PLA Rocket Force on 1 January 2016.^[4][5] Despite claims by some, there appears to be no evidence to suggest that the new generation of Chinese ballistic-missile submarines will come under PLARF control.^[6][7]

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, 200 to 300 conventional medium-range ballistic missiles and an unknown number of conventional intermediate-range ballistic missiles, as well as 200-300 ground-launched cruise missiles. Many of these are extremely accurate, which would allow them to destroy targets even without nuclear warheads.^[8] The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and Federation of American Scientists estimated in 2023 that China has a stockpile of approximately 500 nuclear warheads.^[9][10]

History

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 General Staff.

China began developing nuclear weapons in the late 1950s with substantial Soviet assistance. With the Sino-Soviet split 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 American threats, and to increase Chinese prestige and power internationally.

China made rapid 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 27, 1966, and detonated its first hydrogen bomb on June 17, 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.^[11] China destroyed 9 U-2 surveillance craft while two went missing when they attempted to spy on it.^[12]

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 May 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 Type 092 submarine SSBN (Xia-class) in 1981, and the next year it conducted its first successful test launch of the Julang-2 submarine-launched ballistic missile (CSS-NX-4).

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 3,000–5,000-kilometre (1,900–3,100 mi) long underground launch and storage facility for nuclear missiles in the Hebei province.^[13] 47 News reported that the facility was likely located in the Taihang Mountains.^[14]

The DF-ZF hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) made its first flight test on 9 January 2014;^[15] it likely entered service by October 2019.^[16] It is believed to have atop speed of Mach 10, or 12,360 km/h (7,680 mph).^[17]

Two Chinese technical papers from December 2012 and April 2013 show that China has concluded that 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. 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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[18]

US Air Force National Air and Space Intelligence Center estimated that as of 2023 the number of Chinese nuclear warheads capable of reaching the United States has expanded well over 200.^[19]

In June 2021, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies has found out that China is constructing new missile silo field in Gansu in western China. According to the satellite picture, 119 missile silos for intercontinental ballistic missiles are under construction near Yumen City.^[20] In July, Federation Of American Scientists found out there are another 110 silos being built in Hami, Xinjiang. The two significant expansion projects include silos more than ten times the number of ICBM silos in operation of PLARF today.^[21]

In July 2021, China tested globe-circling hypersonic missile including the unprecedented launch of a separate 2nd missile from the ultra-high-speed vehicle according to the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal. The test showed China's development of its strategic, nuclear-capable weapons as more advanced than any had thought, surprising Pentagon officials, the two newspapers said. Neither the United States nor Russia has demonstrated the same ability, which requires launching a missile from a parent vehicle traveling five times the speed of sound. According to reporting by the Financial Times, this weapons system consists of two parts: a fractional orbital bombardment system (FOBS) and a hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV).^[22][23]

In July 2023, South China Morning Post reported that PLARF commander Li Yuchao and deputy commander Liu Guangbin were under the investigation of the Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Military Commission. Later that month, both Li Yuchao and Liu Guangbin were officially removed from their posts, while Wang Houbin was appointed as the commander PLARF.^[24] Additionally, Xu Xisheng was appointed as the political commissar.^[25] Li Yuchao and Liu Guangbin's expulsion has not been formally explained. There are rumors that they are being investigated for corruption or disclosing military secrets.^[26][27] Furthermore, it was thought to be an odd decision to replace the Rocket Force commander with military personnel from outside the branch, and this led to concerns about the security, credibility, and integrity of the PLA as well as its participation in China's military tactics during the Taiwan Strait conflict.^[28]

Missile ranges

•  
  Chinese Conventional Strike Ranges as of 2022
•  
  Chinese Nuclear Ballistic Missile Strike Ranges as of 2022

Ranks

Officers

Title	上将 Shang jiang	中将 Zhong jiang	少将 Shao jiang	大校 Da xiao	上校 Shang xiao	中校 Zhong xiao	少校 Shao xiao	上尉 Shang wei	中尉 Zhong wei	少尉 Shao wei	学员 Xue yuan
Equivalent translation	General	Lieutenant general	Major general	Senior colonel	Colonel	Lieutenant colonel	Major	Captain	First lieutenant	Second lieutenant	Officer cadet
Shoulder insignia
Collar insignia

Enlisted

Rank group	高级军士 Gao ji jun shi			中级军士 Zhong ji jun shi		初级军士 Chu ji jun shi		义务兵 Yi wu bing
Title	一级军士长 Yi ji jun shi zhang	二级军士长 Er ji jun shi zhang	三级军士长 San ji jun shi zhang	一级上士 Yī jí jūnshì	二级上士 yi ji shang shi	空军中士 shang shi	下士 Xia shi	上等兵 Shang deng bing	列兵 Lie bing
Equivalent translation	Master sergeant first class	Master sergeant second class	Master sergeant third class	Sergeant First Class	Sergeant Second Class	Sergeant	Corporal	Private first class	Private
Shoulder insignia
Collar insignia

Active missiles

Further information: Dongfeng (missile)

It is currently somewhat unclear as to whether the Chinese theater commands or the PLARF itself has operational control over the conventional ballistic missile units, though it seems likely that the PLARF acts in coordination with, but not taking orders from, the theater commands with regards to the use of conventional ballistic missiles, with control of nuclear weapons continuing to be exercised at the Central Military Commission level.^[29]

Missiles Operated by the PLARF^[30]

Missile	Chinese name	NATO name	Image	Est. Max Range	Estimated Launchers	Est. Nuclear Warheads
Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) Chinese: 高超音速飞行器; pinyin: gāochāo yīnsù fēixíngqì
DF-ZF	"DF-ZF"^[31]	None (WU-14)		1500+ km	?	0
Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) Chinese: 洲际弹道导弹; pinyin: zhōujì dàndào dǎodàn
Dongfeng-41	simplified Chinese: 东风-41; traditional Chinese: 東風-41	CSS-20		12,000–15,000 km	Mobile:120 Silo:330 building.^[32]	360
Dongfeng-31	simplified Chinese: 东风-31; traditional Chinese: 東風-31	CSS-10		12,000 km	DF-31:6 DF-31A:24 DF-31AG:60	90
Dongfeng-5	simplified Chinese: 东风-5; traditional Chinese: 東風-5	CSS-4		12,000–15,000 km	DF-5A:6 DF-5B:12	66
Dongfeng-4	simplified Chinese: 东风-4; traditional Chinese: 東風-4	CSS-3		5,500 km	6?	0
Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles (IRBMs) Chinese: 远程弹道导弹; pinyin: yuǎnchéng dàndào dǎodàn
Dongfeng-26	simplified Chinese: 东风-26; traditional Chinese: 東風-26	CSS-18		5,000 km
Medium-Range Ballistic Missiles (MRBMs) Chinese: 中程弹道导弹; pinyin: zhōng chéng dàndào dǎodàn
Dongfeng-21	simplified Chinese: 东风-21; traditional Chinese: 東風-21	CSS-5		1,500–1,770 km	DF-21A/E: 24 DF-21D:	24
Dongfeng-17	simplified Chinese: 东风-17; traditional Chinese: 東風-17	CSS-22		1,800–2,500 km	54	?
Dongfeng-16	simplified Chinese: 东风-16; traditional Chinese: 東風-16	CSS-11		800-1,000 km
Short-Range Ballistic Missiles (SRBMs) Chinese: 短程弹道导弹; pinyin: duǎnchéng dàndào dǎodàn
Dongfeng-15	simplified Chinese: 东风-15; traditional Chinese: 東風-15	CSS-6		600–900 km
Dongfeng-12 (M20)	simplified Chinese: 东风-12; traditional Chinese: 東風-12	CSS-X-15	Not available	280–420 km
Dongfeng-11 (M11)	simplified Chinese: 东风-11; traditional Chinese: 東風-11	CSS-7		300–600 km
B-611	"B611"	CSS-11	Not available	480 km
Cruise Missiles Chinese: 巡航导弹; pinyin: xúnháng dǎodàn
CJ-10	simplified Chinese: 长剑-10; traditional Chinese: 長劍-10	None		1,500+ km
Sources:^[33][1][2][3]

Obsolete missiles

• DF-3A, CSS-2 (IRBM) - In service from 1971 to 2014

Command

The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) is under the direct command of the Central Military Commission (CMC).^[34]

It has been commanded by Wang Houbin since July 2023,^[24] and by Deputy Commanders Li Chuanguang (李传广) and Chen Guangjun (陈光军) and an unknown chief of staff. PLA Rocket Force Command is also led by Political Commissar Xu Xisheng and Deputy Political Commissar Yu Guang (禹光). PLARF Command has four direct-reporting units which are not within the command's headquarters nor the subordinate bases: PLARF Staff Department, Political Work Department, Equipment Department, and Logistics Department.^[34]

• Staff Department (参谋部)
  • Operations Support Group (参谋部作战保障大队, Unit 96942) in Changping, Beijing
    • Reconnaissance Regiment (侦察团, Unit 96943) in Yanqing, Beijing
    • Survey and Mapping (测绘大队, Unit 96944) in Chanping, Beijing
    • Communications Regiment (参谋部通信团, Unit 96946) in Haidian, Beijing
  • Electronic Countermeasures Regiment (参谋部电子对抗团, Unit 96945), in Baoding, Hebei
  • UAV Unit (无人机部队) in Quanzhou, Fujian
  • Automated Command Center (自动化指挥中心) in Haidian, Beijing
  • New Soldier Training Regiment (新兵团) in Tangshan, Hebei
  • Meteorology Center (气象中心) in Changping, Beijing
  • Cruise Missile Mission Planning Center (巡航导弹任务规划中心, Unit 96941) in Changping, Beijing
  • Technical Reconnaissance Bureau (火箭军技术侦察局) in Haidian, Beijing
• Political Work Department (政治工作部)
  • Organization Bureau (组织局)
  • Cadre Bureau (干部局)
  • Propaganda Bureau (宣传局)
  • Military and Civilian Personnel Bureau (兵员和文职人员局)
  • Mass Work Liaison Bureau (群工联络局)
• Equipment Department (装备部)
  • Comprehensive Planning Bureau (综合计划局)
  • Scientific Research and Purchasing Bureau (科研订购局)
  • Experimentation Supervision Bureau (试验监管局)
  • Directly Subordinate Work Bureau (直属工作局)
  • Nuclear Technology and Equipment Bureau (核技术装备局)
• Logistics Department (后勤部)
  • Finance Bureau (财务局)
  • Medical Bureau (卫生局)
  • Transport and Delivery Bureau (运输投送局)
  • Military Infrastructure and Construction Bureau (军事设施建设局)
  • Purchase and Supply Bureau (采购供应局)
  • Functional Bureau (业务局)
  • Combat Service and Planning Bureau (战勤计划局)
  • Directly Subordinate Work Bureau (直属工作局)

Unit designators

Each unit of the PLA maintains both a True Unit Designator (TUD, Chinese: 部队番号; pinyin: bùduì fānhào) and a Military Unit Cover Designator (MUCD, Chinese: 部队代号; pinyin: bùduì dàihào). A unit's TUD is intended for internal use while the MUCD is intended to be used externally to protect and conceal the true identity of the unit. For example, the first brigade of the Base 61 has the TUD "611 Brigade" and the MUCD "Unit 96711". MUCDs do, however, often reveal the a unit's echelon, mission, and subordination. Although the system has changed at least four times since 1950, current PLARF MUCDs are five digits which begin with '96'. PLARF MUCDs whose third digit is 1–5 are pre-2017 reform and are obsolete.^[34]

Order of battle

The PLARF is organized into nine bases, ordinally numbered from Base 61 through Base 69. The first six bases (61 through 66) are operations bases assigned to the various geographic theater commands of the PRC while three bases (67 through 69) conduct support missions.^[34][35] PLARF bases are typically led by an officer in a Corps or Corps Deputy Leader grade. Each of the six operations bases maintains a mix of nuclear and conventional armaments specific to their geographic command's mission. For example, as a component of the Eastern Theater Command (responsible for a potential conflict with Taiwan), Base 61 is armed primarily with short-range conventional missiles while the more inland Bases 64 and 66 operate long-range nuclear-capable missiles.^[34] These six operations bases are all similarly structured with a base headquarters, staff department (参谋部), political work department (政治工作部), support department, six to eight subordinate missile brigades (导弹旅), a base hospital ([医院), and training ([训练团), communications ([通信团), operational support (作战保障团), comprehensive support ([综合保障团), and inspection (装检团) regiments.^[34] The operational support regiment in each of the six operations bases provides security, engineering, meteorology, survey and mapping, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense.^[34] Each base's comprehensive support regiment is responsible for equipment (including vehicles and missile) repair, maintenance, fueling, and storage — the result of a 2017 merge of base repair factories (修配厂) with technical service regiments (技术勤务团). Base equipment inspection regiments are responsible for nuclear warhead logistics including storage, maintenance, and distribution at each base. Exceptions to this standard base structure: Base 61 commands an additional regiment for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, Base 63 commands an additional regiment for ICBM liquid fueling, and Base 64 possesses an equipment inspection brigade as opposed to the standard regiment.^[34]

PLARF Operations Bases

Theater Command	Base	Brigade	Chinese name	Missile type	Location	Nuclear capable	Comments
Eastern Theater Command	61	Headquarters			Huangshan, Anhui	HQ base
		611	六十一基地611旅	DF-21A (DF-31?)	Chizhou, Anhui	Yes	Posssibly updating to DF-31 or DF-26
		612	六十一基地612旅	DF-21A (DF-31AG?)	Jingdezhen, Jiangxi	Yes	Possibly upgrading to DF-31AG
		613	六十一基地613旅	DF-15B	Shangrao, Anhui	No	Possibly upgrading to DF-17
		614	六十一基地614旅	DF-17	Yong'an, Fujian	Maybe	First DF-17 brigade
		615	六十一基地615旅	DF-11A	Meizhou, Guangdong	No
		616	六十一基地616旅	DF-15 (DF-17?)	Ganzhou, Jiangxi	Maybe	Possibly relocated and upgrading to DF-17
		617	六十一基地617旅	DF-16	Jinhua, Zhejiang	No	Second DF-16 brigade
		618	六十一基地618旅	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Possible new base
Southern Theater Command	62	Headquarters			Kunming, Yunnan	HQ Base
		621	六十二基地621旅	DF-31AG	Yibin, Sichuan	Yes
		622	六十二基地622旅	DF-31A	Yuxi, Yunnan	Yes
		623	六十二基地623旅	CJ-10A	Liuzhou, Guangxi	No	First CJ-10A brigade
		624	六十二基地624旅	DF-21C/D	Danzhou, Hainan	No
		625	六十二基地625旅	DF-26	Jianshui, Yunnan	Yes	Second DF-26 brigade
		626	六十二基地626旅	DF-26	Qingyuan, Guangdong	Yes	Third DF-26 brigade
		627	六十二基地627旅	DF-17	Jieyang, Guangdong	Maybe	Base expansion underway as of 2023
	63	Headquarters			Huaihua, Hunan	HQ Base
		631	六十三基地631旅	DF-5B	Jingzhou, Hubei	Yes
		632	六十三基地632旅	DF-31AG	Shaoyang, Hunan	Yes
		633	六十三基地633旅	DF-5A	Huitong, Hunan	Yes
		634	六十三基地634旅	Potentially DF-5C?	Yueyang, Hunan	Yes	12-silo field under construction
		635	六十三基地635旅	CJ-10	Yichun, Jiangxi	No	Second CJ-10 brigade
		636	六十三基地636旅	DF-16A	Shaoguan, Guangdong	No	First DF-16A brigade
		637	六十三基地637旅	DF-5B?	Tongdao	Maybe	New silo field under construction
Western Theater Command	64	Headquarters			HQ base		Lanzhou, Gansu
		641	六十四基地641旅	DF-31A	Hancheng, Shaanxi	Yes
		642	六十四基地642旅	DF-31AG	Datong, Shanxi	Yes
		643	六十四基地643旅	DF-31AG	Tianshui, Gansu	Yes	first DF-31AG brigade
		644	六十四基地644旅	DF-41	Hanzhong, Shaanxi	Yes
		645	六十四基地645旅	DF-41	Yinchuan, Ningxia	Yes	Second DF-41 brigade
		646	六十四基地646旅	DF-26	Korla, Xinjiang	No
		647	六十四基地647旅	DF-26?	Xining, Qinghai	No
		?	?	?	Sanmenxia, Henan	?	New base under construction
		?	?	?	Hami, Xinjiang	?	120-silo field under construction?
		?	?	?	Yumen, Gansu	?	110-silo field under construction?
Northern Theater Command	65	Headquarters			Shenyang, Liaoning	HQ base
		651	六十五基地651旅	DF-31AG?	Dalian, Liaoning	No	New base, almost complete (as of 2023)
		652	六十五基地652旅	DF-21C (DF-31?)	Tonghua, Jilin	Maybe
		653	六十五基地653旅	DF-21D	Laiwu, Shandong	No
		654	六十五基地654旅	DF-26	Dalian, Liaoning	No
		655	六十五基地655旅	DF-17?	Tonghua, Jilin	Maybe	Base upgrade underway (as of 2023)
		656	六十五基地656旅	CJ-100?	Laiwu, Shandong Taian, Liaoning	No	First CJ-100 brigade?
		656	六十五基地656旅	?	Ordos, Inner Mongolia Yulin, Shaanxi	?	90-silo field under construction?
Central Theater Command	66	Headquarters			Luoyang, Henan	HQ base
		661	六十六基地661旅	DF-5B	Lushi, Henan	Yes
		662	六十六基地662旅	DF-4 or DF-41	Luanchuan, Henan	Yes	Unclear if change to DF-41 completed as of 2023
		663	六十六基地663旅	DF-31A	Nanyang, Henan	Yes
		664	六十六基地664旅	DF-31 or DF-31AG	Xiangyang, Hubei	Yes
		665	六十六基地665旅	DF-17?	Changzhi, Shanxi	Maybe	Possible new base area
		666	六十六基地666旅	DF-26	Xinyang, Henan	Yes	First DF-26 brigade
Sources^[36]^[37]^[38]^[2]^[3]^[30]

Base 61

Base 61 was founded in August 1965 as unit 121 in Guangyang Township of Shitai County in Anhui Province and is responsible for the construction of missile silos.^[36] The base itself was built in June 1966 under Project 303, and was designated as the 52nd Base of the Second Artillery Corp under the Nanjing Military Region on 25 May 1968. In 2016, the PLA Rocket Force assumed authority over the base. On 18 April 2017, under orders from Xi Jinping and the Central Military Commission, the base was re-designated Base 61.

Base 65

Base 65, headquartered in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, operates with the PLA's Northern Theater Command and stations units in the provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Shandong. Base 65 was founded in September 1964 as the 51st Base Command of the Second Artillery Corps (now the PLARF) under the 302 Project, and then approved by committee on November 1. On 25 May 1968, it was transferred to the Second Artillery Force. In 1970, Base 65 moved to Tonghua City in Jilin Province. In 1992, it moved to its current home in Shenyang. It was transferred to the PLA Rocket Force in 2016. On 18 April 2017, under orders from CCP general secretary and CMC chairman Xi Jinping, the base was realigned and redesignated as the 65th Base.^[36][37]

Base 67

The PLARF operates another base, Base 67,^[37] which is responsible for nuclear warhead storage, warhead transport, warhead inspection and nuclear weapon's training. It is believed to form part of the nuclear C3 (command, control and communications) network, though it is unknown if this network is PLARF-only, shared between the PLARF and military commands, or if it used by the Central Military Commission, which is believed to have its own communication system for the nuclear forces.^[38]

The main nuclear storage facility is reportedly located in Taibai County, where large-scale tunneling activities have taken place. The main storage depot is apparently under Mount Taibai itself, with related Base 67 facilities spread throughout the rest of the county. It appears that each missile base also has a smaller storage facility and depot.^[38]

It is likely that warheads that require maintenance or testing, as well as a centralized reserve stock, are held at the Mount Taibai facility, with relatively few warheads distributed to the bases and brigades. It is likely that missile bases would receive additional warheads from the central depot in times of high tension. It seems that the structure of a main unit in Taibai County, with smaller replica units throughout the bases, is repeated in the transportation units.^[38]

Warhead and missile transport in China is heavily reliant on the rail and road systems, likely why a large-scale rail project was constructed in the 1960s by the PLA in the area of Baoji, a large city in Shaanxi province and the location of Base 67's headquarters since that same time period. This became a concern after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, where the vulnerability of transport networks in Shaanxi province was dramatically proven.^{[citation needed]}

Units believed to be subordinate to Base 67 are:^[38]

• Equipment Inspection Institute, called Unit 96411 pre-reform
• Unknown unit, known as Unit 96412
• Technology Service Regiment, called Unit 96421 pre-reform
• Transportation Regiment, called Unit 96422 pre-reform
• Training Regiment, called Unit 96423 pre-reform
• Maintenance Regiment, called Unit 96424 pre-reform
• Communications Regiment, called Unit 96425 pre-reform

Other branches

• PLARF Special Operation Group (火箭军特种作战团), called "Sharp Blade Commando Battalion (利刃特种大队)" is the specially trained units of the PLARF that responds to the highest-risk situations(such as Counter-SOF operations) within a PLARF base, compound or Missile site. also designated to escort of missiles and nuclear weapons, protection of missile/infrastructure.^[39]

Command, control, and communications

The PLARF has operated a separate command and control structure from the rest of the PLA since 1967.^[40] The goal of the system is to ensure tight control of nuclear warheads at the highest levels of government. This is done by the Central Military Commission having direct control of the PLARF, outside of the structure of military regions.

For nuclear weapons, the command structure is believed to run from the CMC, to the headquarters of the PLARF in Beijing, from there to each Artillery Base, and from each Artillery Base down to the individual Brigade. From there, the Brigade transmits firing orders to the launch companies under its control. In the case of conventional ballistic missiles, it is reasonable to assume that more autonomy will be provided in wartime, with command likely being issued from the Bases, which are believed to coordinate with their respective Military Regions on targeting and conventional missile use.

Chinese nuclear C3 capabilities are centered around fiber-optic and satellite-based communication networks, replacing older radio command networks that made up the-then Second Artillery's C3 infrastructure before the 1990s. While historically Chinese nuclear missile forces had to launch from pre-prepared sites, the newest generation of nuclear-capable missiles (the DF-26 and DF-31AG) have been seen deploying to, and launching from, unprepared sites in exercises.

This would corroborate reports that PLARF communications regiments are being trained in the ability to set up telephone and command networks "on-the-fly". The reason for these changes likely has to do with concerns about PLARF survivability; China's commitment to a no-first-use policy means that its nuclear forces have to be capable of both surviving a first-strike, and receiving the orders required to fire back.

Transporter erector launchers

• TA580/TAS5380
• TA5450/TAS5450
• HTF5680A1
• WS2300
• WS2400
• WS2500
• WS2600
• WS21200 (used exclusively by Pakistan)
• WS51200 (used exclusively by North Korea)

Tractor trucks

• Hanyang HY4260
• Hanyang HY4330

Operations in Saudi Arabia

The PLARF Golden Wheel Project (Chinese Wikipedia: 金轮工程) co-operates the DF-3 and DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles in Saudi Arabia since the establishment of Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force in 1984.^[41][42]

See also

•  China portal

• Dongfeng (missile)
• Nuclear triad
• List of states with nuclear weapons
• Qian Xuesen (also known as Tsien Hsue-shen)

Notes

1. PLARF; Chinese: 中国人民解放军火箭军; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Huǒjiàn Jūn
2. Chinese: 第二炮兵

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Sources

•   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. China: A Country Study. Federal Research Division.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chinese People's Liberation Army Rocket Force.

• Official homepage
• Article on GlobalSecurity.org

Further reading

• Everleth, Decker, "People's Liberation Army Rocket Force Order of Battle 2023," Middlebury Institute of International Stuides at Monterey. "At time of publication, it is estimated that the PLARF has 162 to 216 SRBM launchers, 87 to 96 MRBM launchers, 78 to 96 GLCM launchers, 216 IRBM launchers, and 110 ICBM launchers within its active force. By 2028 this force will grow to at least 108 to 144 SRBM launchers, at least 156 to 192 MRBM launchers, at least 78 to 96 or more GLCM launchers, at least 252 IRBM launchers, and 507 or more ICBM launchers. It is worth emphasizing that everything in the current estimate is counting something that the PRC has already built or is in the process of building." (p38)
• Federation of American Scientists et al. (2006): Chinese Nuclear Forces and U.S. Nuclear War Planning
• China Nuclear Forces Guide Federation of American Scientists
• Enrico Fels (February 2008): , Trends East Asia Analysis No. 20.
• Xiu, Ma (24 October 2022). PLA Rocket Force Organization (PDF) (Report). China Aerospace Studies Institute.