The People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAASF, ) is the space service branch 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.

The PLAASF operates China's four spaceports: Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Wenchang, and Xichang, which launch all civilian and military payloads as well as China's crewed flights. Satellites are communicated with via ground centers in Beijing, Jiangyin, and Xi'an. The force commands China's Astronaut Corps and operates its Astronaut Center.

The PLAASF operates China's military satellites, an estimated 245 as of 2024. These include 115 reconnaissance satellites, 81 signals intelligence satellites, 45 for the BeiDou system of satellite navigation, 12 military communications satellites, and three early warning satellites for ballistic missile launches. China also operates the reusable experimental spacecraft which is a robotic spaceplane. China conducted one destructive anti-satellite weapon test in 2007, using an SC-19 missile.

The force operates Lop Nur Nuclear Test Base, the only nuclear test site of China's nuclear weapons program, and other research centers including for aerodynamics in Mianyang, for metrology and astronomy in Luoyang, and for telemetry in Beijing.

In 2024, the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force was separated into the Aerospace Force, as well as the Cyberspace Force and Information Support 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陈怀国：〈用故事礼赞初心〉，《求是》2016年第16期() Logistics Department () Engineering Construction Management Office Equipment Department () Equipment Support Team () Relay Satellite Control and Management Center () Test Equipment and Materials Procurement Bureau ()，中国招标网，20201104112119 East China Office ()上海市拥军优属拥政爱民模范集体和个人名单（2011-2014） ，光明网，2016-07-29 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" (航天城) 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 Xi'an 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 Malan Nuclear Test Base (), MUCD: Unit 63650. Located at the western ends of Lop Nur and Nairenkeer Townships of Heshuo County in the Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Base 21 served as the main nuclear launch and test site of the Chinese nuclear program. The Base has not conducted nuclear weapons testing since 1996. Luoyang Electronic Equipment Test Center (), MUCD: unit 63880. Located at Luoyang in the Henan Province, Base 33 serves as the metrology and instrument measurement center of the PLAASF. It also conducts astronomical mapping and surveying. This base used to be one of the most restricted bases in China and was off limits to foreigners until the 1980s. China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center () (CARDC). located in Mianyang City, Sichuan, it is the largest aerodynamic research center in China, specialized in hypersonic missile research. 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.

Name of ClassChineseSystemTypeOrbitNumber in ServiceNotes SatNav: 45 SatellitesBeiDou 2-M北斗二号-MBDS-2NavigationMEO3BeiDou 2-G北斗二号-GBDS-2NavigationGEO5BeiDou 2-IGSO北斗二号-IGSOBDS-2NavigationIGSO7BeiDou 3-M北斗三号-MBDS-3NavigationMEO24BeiDou 3-G北斗三号-GBDS-3NavigationGEO3BeiDou 3-I北斗三号-IBDS-3NavigationIGSO3 Communications: 11 SatellitesShentong 1神通-1MilComMEO2Shentong 2神通-2MilComMEO4Shentong 2-5 launched as SinoSat2E as a secrecy measure Fenghuo 1烽火-1MilComGEO2Launched as SinoSat 22/A as a secrecy measureFenghuo 2烽火-2A/C/D/EMilComGEO4Launched as SinoSat 1A/C/D/E as a secrecy measure Meteorology/Oceanography: 8 SatellitesYunhai-1云海一号YHSAtmospheric ObservationSSO2Mixed military and civilian useYunhai-2云海二号YHSAtmospheric observation (GNSS-RO)SSO6 Reconnaissance: 92 SatellitesJianbing-5 (Yaogan-1)尖兵五号 (遥感1号)JB-5 ISR -SARLEO2Jianbing-6 (Yaogan-2)尖兵六号（遥感2号）JB-6ISR - IMINTLEO4Jianbing-7 (Yaogan-6)尖兵七号（遥感6号）JB-7ISR - IMINTLEO4 Very high resolutionJianbing-9 (Yaogan-8)尖兵九号（遥感8号）JB-9ISR - IMINTLEO5Medium resolutionJianbing-10尖兵十号/JB-10ISR - IMINTLEO3Decimeter resolutionJianbing-11/12尖兵十一号/十二号ISR - IMINTLEO3Jianbing-16尖兵十六LEO3LKWISR - IMINTLEO4OptoelectronicTianhui-1/2天绘一号/天绘二号CartographyLEO10Stereoscopic Multispectral and Radar Imaging Yaogan-29遥感29号Space SurveillanceLEO5Yaogan-34遥感34号ISR - IMINTLEO4High resolution optical/radarYaogan-35遥感35号Space SurveillanceLEO15Yaogan-36遥感36号ISR - IMINTLEO15OptoelectronicYaogan-39遥感39号LEO12Yaogan-40遥感40号LEO3 ELINT/SIGINT: 81 SatellitesChuangxing-5 (Yaogan-30)创新五号(遥感30号)CX-5ELINTLEO30Launched in tripletsJianbing-8尖兵八号JB-8ELINTLEO15Maritime Surveillance Qianshao-3前哨三号SIGINTGEO3Part of TJS programShijian-6实践六号SJ-6ELINTSSO10Launched in pairsShijian-11实践十一号SJ-11Launch WarningSSO7IRSTYaogan-31遥感31号ELINTLEO12Yaogan-32遥感32号ELINTLEO4 Early Warning: 5 SatellitesHuoyan-1火眼一号HY-1Early WarningGEO5Part of TJS program Rendezvous and Proximity Operations: 3 SatellitesShijian 17实践十七号Debris clean upGEO1 Possible Countersat capabilitiesShijian 21实践二十一号GEO1Shijian 23实践二十三号GEO1

Personnel

Commander

Shang Hong (January 2016 – October 2022) Hao Weizhong (2022 – present)

Political Commissar

Kang Chunyuan (January 2016 – April 2019) Jiang Ping (June 2019 – August 2021) Chen Hui (August 2021 – December 2024)

References