The People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force is an arm of the People's Liberation Army. It was established on 19 April 2024. It is one of two independent space forces in the world, along with the United States Space Force.
History
The PLA Aerospace Force was established on 19 April 2024, taking control of aerospace units and assets from the simultaneously disestablished Strategic Support Force. The PLAASF consolidates all the PLA's space-based C4ISR systems, as well as administering all the existing launch sites, and all other military satellites and space assets.
The China Daily referred to it as the People's Liberation Army Space Force before its official English name was released.
Organization
The PLAASF is headquartered in the Haidian District of Beijing.
Central staff sections include:
- Staff department ()
- Information and Communications Division ()
- Political Work Department ()
- Cadre Bureau()
- Innovation Office()
- Logistics Department ()
- Engineering Construction Management Office
- Equipment Department ()
- Equipment Support Team ()
- Relay Satellite Control and Management Center ()
- Test Equipment and Materials Procurement Bureau ()
- East China Office ()
- Xichang Quality Supervision Station ()
Subordinate Units
Launch Centers
- Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center (), MUCD: unit 63600 ( Dongfeng Base or Dongfeng Aerospace City). Located in Dongfeng Town in the Ejin Banner of the Alxa League of Inner Mongolia, Jiuqian was one of the first aerospace launch facilities ever constructed in China. It is the main base for testing and launching the Long March series of rockets, as well as other missiles, various test satellites meant for low and medium orbits, application satellites, and crewed spacecraft. The base is also responsible for the main spacecraft recovery location.
- Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (): Stationed in Kelan County of Xinzhou City in Shanxi Province, the launch base was constructed in March 1967 under Project 3201 as a response to the breakdown of Sino-Soviet relations. The base was constructed deep in the mountains and deliberately misnamed as part of the Chinese strategy of "backing-up, concealment, and dispersion". The site mostly served as a nuclear missile site and as a detachment of Jiuqian until it was made an independent unit in January 1976. The launch center was opened to international commercial launches in the 1990s with its launch of two U.S. Iridium satellites into orbit.
- Xichang Satellite Launch Center () MUCD: Unit 63790. Headquartered on the Hangtian North Road of Xichang City in Sichuan Province. As of 2022 it also remotely controlled the Wenchang Aerospace Launch Site in Hainan Province.
Control Centers
- Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center (): based in the Haidian district of Beijing, it is the main control center for China's space program, including the crewed Shenzhou missions. The BACC conducts launch monitoring, tracking and measurement, as well as launch recovery. It includes the China offices of SINOSAT and Inmarsat.The complex including the BACC is often called "Aerospace City" (èª天åÂÂ)
- China Maritime Satellite Telemetry and Control Department (), MUCD Unit 63680: Stationed at Jiangyin City in Jiangsu Province, the base was established in 1978 as the headquarter and home port for the Yuan Wang-class tracking ships, which are used to track rocket and missile launches, in particular the testing of the Dongfeng series ballistic missiles and Long March rockets.
- Xi'an Satellite Telemetry and Control Center (), MUCD: Unit 63750. Stationed at No. 28 Xianning East Road in XiâÂÂan City of Shaanxi Province, the base was established in September 1975 as a missile measurement and tracking base and is now the operations and control center for China Energyne and the backup control center of BACC.
- Beijing Institute of Tracking and Telemetry Technology () aka BITTT: located at the Beijing Space City, it focuses on satellite communication and navigation research.
Testing, Development, and Training Centers
- Astronaut Center of China () aka ACC: located at the Beijing Aerospace City, it is the main training and research center for the Chinese space program's astronauts.
- Astronaut Corps (): headquartered at Beijing Aerospace City, it is a directly subordinated military unit of the Aerospace Force. As of 2018 it had selected and trained 42 astronauts, and was in the process of training a third batch, which will include civilians.
- Aerospace Research and Development Center ():
- Project Design Research Center ()
- People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force's Aerospace Engineering University (): not clear what the new name will be after the April 2024 reform.
Ranks
Officer ranks
Enlisted and NCO ranks
Equipment
The PLAASF controls all of China's military satellites, as a well as the BeiDou satellite navigation system. This space force is estimated by the Military Balance 2024 to be around 245 satellites, plus perhaps some dual-use civilian satellites.
As is common in all countries with significant space forces, exact data on China's military satellites' functions is hard to come by. The generic "Yaogan" name is used for military satellites, and only sometimes is the actual military designation released (like the "Jianbing" series). Often, launches are disguised and receive civilian designators, at least for a period.
In counter-sat functions, while as of 2024 the PLAASF does control three possible ASAT satellites, it is unlikely it has command of the SC-19 anti-satellite missiles under the PLARF control.
Personnel
Commander
- Shang Hong (January 2016 â October 2022)
- Hao Weizhong (2022 â present)
Political Commissar
- Kang Chunyuan (January 2016 â April 2019)
- Jiang Ping (June 2019 â August 2021)
- Chen Hui (August 2021 â December 2024)
References