The Creation of the PLA Strategic Support Force and Its Implications for Chinese Military Space Operations

Abstract

This report is based on RAND Project AIR FORCE Strategy and Doctrine Program research that was presented at the second China Aerospace Studies Institute conference, sponsored by Headquarters, U.S. Air Force. It was held at RAND's Arlington, Va., office and took place on May 2, 2016. Experts on airpower, military operations, and Chinese military modernization participated in the conference and provided valuable feedback to the report authors. The resulting reports assess notable developments and implications of Chinas emerging aerospace expeditionary and power projection capabilities. As China's economic, diplomatic, and security interests continue to expand, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and, in particular, its aerospace forces - including Air Force, Naval Aviation, and space capabilities - will require more robust power projection and expeditionary capabilities on a par with China's expanding global footprint. In addition to traditional security concerns like Taiwan and maritime territorial disputes, such issues as countering terrorism, humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, and sea-lane protection have now become factors in the PLA's training, doctrine, and modernization efforts. In addition, command of space, including the military use of outer space, is of increasing interest to the PLA as it seeks to develop new capabilities and operating concepts to support its growing range of military missions. This report focuses on the establishment of the PLA's Strategic Support Force (SSF), which was announced on December 31, 2015. The SSF is charged with overseeing Chinese military space, cyber, and electronic warfare capabilities, and its development will have important implications for China's emerging aerospace expeditionary and power projection capabilities.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2017
Accession Number
AD1085771

Entities

People

  • Eric Heginbotham
  • Kevin L. Pollpeter
  • Michael S. Chase

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Cyber
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Forces (Foreign)
  • Astronautics
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Directed Energy Weapons
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Information Systems
  • Information Warfare
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Space Debris
  • Space Objects
  • Space Systems
  • Spacecraft
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Academic Conference Management
  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Asian Economic Studies

Technology Areas

  • Cyber
  • Microelectronics
  • Space