Centerpiece of a Sweeping Reform Program
The formation of the People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) in late 2015 marked one of the most significant shifts in the structure of China’s military in decades. It was a centerpiece of a sweeping reform program designed to transform the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from a massive, ground-focused force into a modern, integrated military capable of conducting complex joint operations. The PLASSF is a unique organization, unlike any single branch in other major militaries. It consolidates the PLA’s capabilities across the “new domains” of warfare: space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Its creation reflects a fundamental change in military thinking, recognizing that future conflicts won’t be won by tanks and ships alone. Victory will depend on controlling information. This concept, often called “informatized warfare,” is at the heart of the PLASSF’s mission. It’s about achieving dominance in the flow of data, from satellites providing targeting information to cyber units disrupting enemy command systems. The PLASSF was built to be the PLA’s information backbone, providing the entire military with the space-based and network-based tools needed to fight and win in the 21st century. It isn’t a traditional combat arm like the army or navy; it is an enabler, a force multiplier that makes every other part of the PLA more effective. By centralizing these previously scattered technical capabilities, the PLA sought to streamline command, foster innovation, and create synergies between its space, cyber, and electronic warfare units.
A New Force for a New Era
The establishment of the PLASSF on December 31, 2015, was part of a broader overhaul of the PLA’s command structure. Before this, space, cyber, and electronic warfare assets were dispersed among various departments of the PLA’s old General Staff Department, General Armaments Department, and within the different services like the Air Force and Navy. This fragmented approach led to inefficiencies, rivalries, and difficulty in coordinating complex operations that spanned multiple domains. An air force unit might have operated its own reconnaissance satellites, while a signals intelligence unit under a different command handled electronic eavesdropping.
The reforms dissolved the old four-department system and replaced it with a structure designed for joint operations, where different services work together seamlessly. The PLA was reorganized into five theater commands, each responsible for a specific geographic area and controlling all military assets within it. The PLASSF, along with the PLA Ground Force Headquarters, the PLA Navy, the PLA Air Force, and the PLA Rocket Force, became a distinct service-level branch. Unlike the other services its role is to support the entire military. It reports directly to the PLA’s highest command body, the Central Military Commission (CMC), giving it significant authority and high-level oversight. This direct line to the top ensures its missions are aligned with China’s national strategic priorities and that its resources are allocated effectively across the different theater commands. The creation of the PLASSF was an admission that space and cyberspace are not just supporting areas but are central battlefields where future conflicts may be decided.
Organizational Structure
The PLASSF is a massive and complex organization, believed to have a strength of well over 100,000 personnel. It’s structured around two main pillars that reflect its dual focus on the space and cyber domains: the Space Systems Department and the Network Systems Department. These two departments are the operational core of the force, each handling a distinct set of missions while also being expected to collaborate closely. This structure is intended to break down the barriers that previously existed between space operators and cyber warriors, fostering a new generation of personnel skilled in integrated information operations.
The force is commanded by a full general and is equivalent in status to the other main services of the PLA. Its headquarters is in Beijing, and it operates a vast network of bases, launch sites, tracking stations, and research facilities spread across China and, in some cases, around the world. The personnel within the PLASSF are a mix of uniformed officers and soldiers, as well as civilian scientists, engineers, and technicians. This blend of military and civilian expertise is necessary given the highly technical nature of its missions.
The Space Systems Department
The Space Systems Department acts as the PLA’s space force. It’s responsible for nearly all of China’s space-related military activities. This includes launching military satellites, operating them once in orbit, and providing space-based services to the rest of the PLA. It inherited most of its infrastructure and personnel from the former General Armaments Department, which previously oversaw China’s space program.
Its responsibilities are vast. The department manages China’s network of space launch facilities, including the historic Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center for polar orbits, the coastal Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site for heavy-lift rockets, and the Xichang Satellite Launch Center for geostationary satellites. It operates the rockets, such as the Long March family, that carry these satellites into space. State-owned defense contractors like the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) build the satellites and rockets, but the Space Systems Department is the primary customer and operator for military systems.
Once in orbit, the department controls a huge constellation of satellites. This includes the Beidou Navigation Satellite System, China’s alternative to the American GPS, which provides precise positioning, navigation, and timing data essential for guiding missiles, troops, and vehicles. It also operates numerous reconnaissance satellites, such as the Yaogan and Gaofen series, which provide high-resolution imagery and electronic intelligence. Communications satellites provide secure data links for PLA units around the globe. To manage this fleet, the department runs a network of ground control stations, including the main Xi’an Satellite Control Center, and a fleet of Yuan Wang tracking ships that can be deployed worldwide to communicate with spacecraft when they are not over Chinese territory.
The Network Systems Department
The Network Systems Department is the PLA’s cyber force. It is responsible for all aspects of military operations in cyberspace. This includes defending the PLA’s own computer networks, carrying out offensive cyber operations, and conducting electronic warfare. It is believed to have consolidated various cyber and electronic warfare units that were previously under the former General Staff Department’s Third and Fourth Departments, which were responsible for signals intelligence and electronic warfare, respectively.
This department’s mission is multifaceted. On the defensive side, it works to protect China’s critical military networks and data from espionage and sabotage. In an era where every military system is connected, this is an immense task. Offensively, the Network Systems Department is tasked with penetrating adversary networks to gather intelligence or, if required, to disrupt, degrade, or destroy them. This could involve disabling enemy command and control systems, air defense networks, or logistical hubs through cyberattacks.
A key aspect of this department is the integration of cyber operations with electronic warfare (EW). EW involves using the electromagnetic spectrum to an advantage, for instance by jamming enemy radar and communications or intercepting their signals. The Network Systems Department views these two fields as deeply interconnected. A cyberattack might be used to gain access to a network, which then allows an EW unit to take control of an enemy’s radio systems. Conversely, an EW attack might be used to create an opening for a cyber intrusion. The department also engages in information operations and what is sometimes termed psychological warfare, using information and media to influence perceptions and decision-making.
Core Missions and Capabilities
The PLASSF was created to provide a suite of high-tech capabilities that underpin all modern military operations. Its missions can be grouped into several key areas, all of which are designed to give the PLA an information advantage over any potential adversary.
Space Operations
The PLASSF’s space capabilities are fundamental to the PLA’s ability to operate over long distances. Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) is a primary mission. Satellites in orbit provide a persistent, watchful eye, collecting imagery and electronic signals from across the globe. This information is vital for everything from monitoring troop movements and tracking naval fleets to identifying targets for long-range missiles.
Satellite Communications (SATCOM) are just as important. The PLASSF operates a network of communication satellites that provide secure, high-bandwidth data links for PLA forces, whether they are ships in the Indian Ocean, aircraft patrolling the South China Sea, or ground units in remote western China. This ensures that commanders can stay in constant contact with their forces.
Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) services provided by the Beidou satellite constellation are another core function. Beidou allows the PLA to navigate and target its weapons with high precision without relying on the U.S. GPS system, which could be denied to them in a conflict. The system’s highly accurate timing signals are also essential for synchronizing communications networks and other complex electronic systems. Beyond these support functions, the PLASSF is also responsible for space situational awareness – tracking objects in orbit – and developing counter-space capabilities. These could include anti-satellite weapons, jammers, or directed-energy weapons designed to disable or destroy an opponent’s satellites.
Cyber Warfare
In the cyber domain, the PLASSF has both defensive and offensive roles. Defensive Cyber Operations (DCO) involve protecting the vast and complex network of military computer systems. This means constantly monitoring for intrusions, defending against attacks, and ensuring the integrity of the PLA’s data and command networks. The security of these networks is paramount, as a successful attack could cripple the military’s ability to function.
Offensive Cyber Operations (OCO) involve using cyber capabilities as a weapon. This can range from espionage, where the goal is to steal sensitive information, to attacks designed to disrupt or destroy enemy systems. In a conflict, the PLASSF’s cyber units could be tasked with shutting down an adversary’s power grid, disabling their financial systems, or corrupting the data in their military command systems. These operations are often conducted with a high degree of stealth, making attribution difficult. The goal is to create chaos and confusion, slowing down the enemy’s decision-making and undermining their ability to fight effectively.
Electronic Warfare
Electronic Warfare (EW) is the art of controlling the electromagnetic spectrum. The PLASSF’s EW units are tasked with detecting, identifying, and locating enemy electronic signals, a practice known as Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). This information can reveal the location and intentions of enemy forces. They are also responsible for electronic attack, which involves using energy to jam, disrupt, or deceive enemy systems.
This could mean broadcasting powerful signals to jam enemy radar, preventing them from seeing incoming aircraft or missiles. It could involve jamming communication networks, cutting off commanders from their troops. It could also involve “spoofing,” where false signals are sent to mislead an enemy system. For example, an EW unit could send fake GPS signals to a guided missile, causing it to miss its target. The PLASSF integrates these capabilities closely with its cyber operations, often using them in tandem to achieve a greater effect. A cyber attack might first weaken a system’s defenses, making it more vulnerable to an EW attack.
Psychological Warfare and Information Operations
A less tangible but equally important mission for the PLASSF is shaping the information environment. This involves using information to influence the perceptions, attitudes, and behavior of a target audience, which could be the population of an adversary nation, their political leaders, or their military personnel. These operations can be used to sow dissent, spread disinformation, undermine morale, and create political pressure.
In the digital age, this is often conducted through social media, news outlets, and other online platforms. By controlling the narrative and disseminating specific messages, the PLASSF can attempt to achieve strategic objectives without firing a shot. This “discourse power” is seen as a key component of modern warfare, where public opinion and political will can be as decisive as battlefield victories.
The PLASSF in the Broader PLA Structure
The PLASSF’s role as a “support” force is what makes it so unique. It does not own tanks, fighter jets, or warships in the traditional sense. Instead, it provides indispensable data and services to the units that do. It is designed to be a “plug-and-play” force for the PLA’s five joint theater commands. When a theater commander is planning an operation, they don’t have to worry about finding and coordinating separate space, cyber, and EW units. They can simply request the necessary support from the PLASSF, which then provides an integrated package of information capabilities tailored to the mission.
This centralized model avoids the duplication of effort and inter-service rivalries that plagued the old system. It ensures that the PLA’s most advanced technical assets are managed by specialists and allocated according to strategic priorities set by the CMC. For example, in a maritime conflict, the PLASSF would be responsible for providing satellite ISR to locate an enemy fleet, secure communications for the PLA Navy, navigation data for anti-ship missiles, and cyber or EW attacks to disrupt the enemy’s command and control. The PLASSF wouldn’t sink the ships, but it would provide the information advantage that allows the Navy and Rocket Force to do so effectively. It is the central nervous system of the modern PLA.
Equipment and Infrastructure
The PLASSF controls a vast and growing arsenal of high-tech equipment and infrastructure. These assets represent a massive investment by the Chinese state over several decades and are among the most advanced in the world.
Space Assets
The jewel in the crown of the PLASSF’s space assets is the Beidou constellation, a global network of dozens of satellites providing PNT services. It also operates a large fleet of remote sensing satellites. The Yaogan series are primarily for military reconnaissance, equipped with high-resolution optical cameras, synthetic aperture radar (which can see through clouds and at night), and electronic intelligence sensors to listen in on communications. The Gaofen series, while often described as civilian, provides dual-use Earth observation data that is also of great military value.
This satellite fleet is supported by a global ground infrastructure. In addition to the four main launch sites in China, the PLASSF operates tracking, telemetry, and command stations within China and in other countries. The Yuan Wang fleet of tracking ships provides the ability to communicate with satellites and support launches from anywhere on Earth. This extensive network gives the PLASSF robust control over its space assets.
| Launch Center | Location | Primary Orbits | Notable Launches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jiuquan | Gobi Desert | Low Earth Orbit, Medium Earth Orbit | Shenzhou (human spaceflight), military satellites |
| Taiyuan | Shanxi Province | Sun-Synchronous Orbit, Polar Orbit | Weather, reconnaissance, and Earth science satellites |
| Xichang | Sichuan Province | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit | Beidou navigation satellites, communications satellites |
| Wenchang | Hainan Island | Heavy-lift to LEO, GTO, and deep space | Long March 5/7 rockets, space station modules, planetary probes |
Cyber and Electronic Warfare Infrastructure
The assets of the Network Systems Department are less visible but no less formidable. This includes a network of supercomputing centers for data analysis and code-breaking, secure data storage facilities, and numerous signals intelligence listening posts. The department also operates a range of specialized hardware. This includes EW aircraft, which are commercial or military transport planes packed with sensors and jammers, designed to fly near a battlefield and disrupt enemy electronics. There are also ground-based mobile EW units and EW systems installed on naval vessels. The specific details of the PLASSF’s cyber tools and capabilities are highly classified, but they are understood to be sophisticated and constantly evolving.
Global Implications
The creation of the PLASSF has significant implications for global security. It is a clear statement of China’s intent to become a military peer of the United States and to challenge its long-standing dominance in the space and cyber domains. The PLASSF’s capabilities are designed to counter traditional American military strengths. For decades, the U.S. military has relied on its superiority in space-based ISR, communications, and GPS to project power around the world. The PLASSF is developing the tools to deny the U.S. those advantages in a potential conflict, for example, by jamming GPS signals or using anti-satellite weapons.
This has led to an escalating competition in space and cyberspace. In response to China’s growing capabilities, the U.S. established the United States Space Force and has invested heavily in its own U.S. Cyber Command. Other nations are also developing their own space and cyber capabilities, leading to the increasing militarization of these domains. The line between civilian and military systems in space and cyberspace is often blurry, and the development of offensive capabilities raises the risk of miscalculation and escalation. An attack on a satellite, for example, could create a massive field of debris that threatens all satellites in that orbit, civilian and military alike.
Challenges and Future Development
Despite its rapid progress, the PLASSF faces several challenges. One of the biggest is organizational. The force was created by merging units from different parts of the old PLA structure, each with its own culture, doctrine, and way of doing things. Integrating these disparate parts into a single, cohesive force that can work together effectively is a long-term project. There is also a significant human capital challenge. The PLASSF needs to recruit, train, and retain a large number of highly skilled personnel, including scientists, engineers, and cyber experts, who are also in high demand in the private sector.
Looking ahead, the PLASSF is likely to continue to be a top priority for investment and development within the PLA. Its capabilities will be enhanced by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing. AI can be used to analyze the vast amounts of data collected by ISR assets more quickly and to automate cyber defense and attack. Quantum technology could eventually lead to secure communications that are impossible to intercept and new sensing capabilities. The PLASSF will almost certainly continue to develop more sophisticated counter-space systems and expand the size and capability of its satellite constellations, further solidifying its role as the gatekeeper of the PLA’s information advantage.
Summary
The People’s Liberation Army Strategic Support Force is a novel military organization created to centralize and enhance China’s capabilities in the strategic domains of space, cyberspace, and the electromagnetic spectrum. Its establishment in 2015 was a key part of the PLA’s broader modernization, reflecting a shift in focus toward winning “informatized” wars where information dominance is paramount. The PLASSF acts as a force multiplier, providing essential support services – from satellite reconnaissance and navigation to cyber defense and electronic attack – to the entire PLA. It represents a significant evolution in China’s military strategy and is a key driver of the growing strategic competition in the space and cyber domains.
