China’s most mysterious military branch, its total number has increased by 35% in three years!
The Chinese People's Liberation Army has an extremely special branch, and its numbers are increasing instead of decreasing.
This military branch is the Rocket Force of the People's Liberation Army. The number of has increased by 35% in three years.
(Dongfeng-17 hypersonic ballistic missile, active air defense and anti-missile system is difficult to intercept)
The Rocket Force is a new service established at the end of 2015. Its military history is very different from that of the army, navy and air force. Short, but extremely powerful.
Even the former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army General Martin Dempsey , could not help but praise: The combat strength of the Chinese Rocket Force cannot be underestimated.
(U.S. Army General Martin Dempsey)
Some netizens asked why the number of Rocket Forces has been increasing. What is the reason behind it?
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Why will the number of Rocket Force troops increase?
Rocket Force - an "asymmetric" weapon in the hands of the People's Liberation Army
Its predecessor is the famous "Second Artillery Force" of the People's Liberation Army. Although it is a branch of the army, it is a strategic force under the direct leadership of the country and is responsible for strategic nuclear strikes. Wait for the task.
Its ranking as a "service" was mainly due to the influence of the international environment at that time. The People's Liberation Army needed to hide this service from the outside world, otherwise it might suffer a "surgical" attack from the two super military powers, the United States and the Soviet Union.
In the past few years, it was "upgraded" to a military service not only because the international environment is changing, but also because it requires special attention.
To put it bluntly, ballistic missile is an "asymmetric" killer weapon. When others dare to look at you with eager eyes, you can show off the ballistic missile and you can achieve the effect of defeating others without fighting. .
( Dongfeng-3 ballistic missile is currently a strategic weapon in the hands of Saudi Arabia. It has spent 3.5 billion US dollars to purchase 36 Dongfeng-3 missiles)
There is indeed a precedent for this. You can think of "" in the Middle East Saudi Arabia ".
During Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, it decisively activated its "Dongfeng-3" medium-range ballistic missiles to protect itself, which directly scared off Iraq who wanted to invade Saudi Arabia.
It can be said that Dongfeng-3 has also ensured Saudi Arabia’s stability in the war-prone Middle East for decades.
I have to say that Saudi Arabia’s US$3.5 billion was well spent.
US media broke the news that the number of missile brigades in the Rocket Force has reached 40
The US "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" once published an article stating that "the Rocket Force has 40 ballistic missile brigades, a 35% increase in number from three years ago." Data currently exposed shows that the Rocket Force’s ballistic missile brigades have increased by approximately 11.
(Rocket Force Ballistic Missile Brigade)
The reasons for the increase in the number of Rocket Force missile brigades are as follows.
First, During the military reform, the Rocket Force missile brigade needs to be expanded.
In 2015, our country carried out military reforms to its armed forces (the Second Artillery Force, the Navy, Land and Air Force). It was during this military reform that the Rocket Force was upgraded from a "service" to a "service". At the same time, it is also actively expanding to facilitate response. Conflict may break out at any time.
(Dongfeng missiles ready to go)
Secondly, faces pressure from the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea .
Although the current international environment is becoming more peaceful, conflicts still exist in some areas. The current conflict between Russia and Ukraine in Eastern Europe has the United States as the "shit stirrer" behind it.
Of course, in order to safeguard its own interests, the United States not only creates trouble at Russia's doorstep, but also makes trouble at China's doorstep.
A large number of U.S. congressmen visited Taiwan in batches, and also sold weapons to Taiwan. The euphemistic name was to "maintain the balance of military power across the Taiwan Strait" . In fact, what they did was undermine the peace across the Taiwan Strait and wanted to Things that push the two sides of the Taiwan Strait into the abyss of war.
(The "Reagan" aircraft carrier battle group is currently the core of the US Navy's 7th Fleet)
The aircraft carrier battle group of the US Navy appears from time to time to hold military exercises near the waters east of Taiwan, blatantly "confronting the island" Cheer up the Taiwan independence elements.
The United States is doing this to prevent the rise of China. is trying to use the "Taiwan card" to achieve the purpose of "using Taiwan to contain China."
In addition to causing trouble near the Taiwan Strait, the United States has also dispatched warships many times to unscrupulously infringe on my country's legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea in the name of "freedom of navigation". It has given support to countries surrounding the South China Sea that have territorial and territorial disputes with my country, and wants them to Get together to infringe China's legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea.
(U.S. dual aircraft carrier formation)
The United States has provoked conflicts in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait. Its essence is to contain and weaken China so that it can continue to implement hegemony around the world.
Faced with the menacing U.S. Navy, it is impossible for the People's Liberation Army to use the weak People's Navy to go head-to-head with the United States!
At this time, it is necessary to dispatch "asymmetric weapons" —Dongfeng-21D and Dongfeng-26 anti-ship ballistic missiles . These two anti-ship ballistic missiles alone are enough to keep the US aircraft carrier battle group away China's coastline is more than 2,000 kilometers.
( Dongfeng-26 is the second anti-ship ballistic missile in active service in my country and the world)
It is reported that the Rocket Force has approximately 12 ballistic missile brigades deployed in the Eastern Theater Command and the Southern Theater Command, and some missile bases in the two theaters. It seems to be expanding.
You must know that these two theaters mainly deal with matters in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
These are important factors in the expansion of the Rocket Force.
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What types of missiles have been added to the Rocket Force?
Dongfeng series ballistic missiles are the trump card weapons in the hands of the People's Liberation Army. They not only have powerful performance, but also have a very complete range of types, covering short-range, medium-range, long-range, intercontinental ballistic missiles .
At the same time, the Dongfeng series is also the world's only ground-to-surface ballistic missile strike system with both nuclear and conventional capabilities, solid and liquid coexistence, and consistent range.
(A Rocket Force brigade carries out night comprehensive training)
Some netizens may say, why don’t the United States and Russia do this?
You must know that the ballistic missile capabilities of the United States and Russia are among the best in the world.
In fact, this is related to the " Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty " signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987. For the sake of "security", both sides destroyed land-based ballistic missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 kilometers, and at the same time, they will no longer develop this ballistic missiles within range.
(The United States and the Soviet Union signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty)
Russia later continued to implement the "Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty" with the United States in inheriting the legacy of the Soviet Union.
The United States and Russia have been put under a "tightening curse", and they have no reason to develop a surface-to-surface ballistic missile system similar to the Dongfeng series.
Ballistic missile technology upgrade
The missile types added by the Rocket Force cover short-range to intercontinental and liquid to solid.
They are Dongfeng-16, Dongfeng-17, Dongfeng-26, Dongfeng-31AG and Dongfeng-41, as well as Dongfeng-5B and other ballistic missiles.
(Dongfeng-16 ballistic missile)
Among them, the places where Dongfeng-16 missiles are deployed are mainly concentrated in the eastern theater , replacing the Dongfeng-11 and Dongfeng-15 series short-range ballistic missiles originally deployed in the area.
After all, Dongfeng-11 and Dongfeng-15 were in service relatively early, and some of their performance can no longer meet the needs of modern warfare.
Dongfeng-16 is a medium and short-range ballistic missile with a range of about 1,200 kilometers, known as the "Okinawa Express".
Dongfeng-16 has extremely strong penetration capabilities, especially after re-entering the atmosphere, the speed reaches at least Mach 10 (about 12,000 kilometers per hour), and after the final warhead disperses, it will release a large number of decoy beacons, allowing Interceptor missiles cannot intercept the real incoming target.
(a rocket force unit equipped with Dongfeng-16 ballistic missiles)
Dongfeng-16 adopts storage integrated mobile launch vehicle , which makes it have extremely strong survivability and can carry out precise strikes on targets in all-weather harsh environments.
Since Dongfeng-16 is equipped with inertial navigation and Beidou satellite navigation modes, its circular probability error is within 100 meters, making it a proper "acupoint master".
and Dongfeng-16 are also business experts . According to different mission requirements, warheads such as terminally sensitive submunitions, high-explosive bombs, and earth-penetrating bombs can be replaced, thereby realizing one bomb with multiple uses.
Dongfeng-26 is a medium-range ballistic missile with both nuclear and conventional capabilities and a range of about 5,000 kilometers. Because its range can cover the Guam base in the second island chain, it is called "Guam Express" by netizens.
(Dongfeng-26 anti-ship ballistic missile)
However, don’t just be attracted by the range of the Dongfeng-26. In addition to being able to attack important targets on land, it can also attack large surface ships at sea, including aircraft carriers.
Dongfeng-26 can carry a -ton high-explosive warhead or 3 small nuclear warheads , especially when re-entering the atmosphere, the penetration speed is as high as Mach 18 , which is completely a nightmare for the air defense system in service.
Even a 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carrier located in the center of layers of protection would be difficult to intercept.
It is not an exaggeration to say that it is an important "killer weapon" in the hands of the People's Liberation Army against 100,000-ton nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
(Dongfeng-21 is China’s first anti-ship ballistic missile)
It is also the second active anti-ship ballistic missile after Dongfeng-21D. Together, they constitute the PLA’s active land-based anti-ship ballistic missile combat system. , which can make foreign aircraft carriers stay away.
Dongfeng-17 is a hypersonic ballistic missile developed by our country. It has the characteristics of all-weather, no support, and strong penetration. It can carry out precise strikes against medium and short-range targets (range is about 2,000 kilometers).
(Dongfeng-17 is a hypersonic ballistic missile that is a headache for the anti-missile system)
Dongfeng-17 is different from traditional ballistic missiles in that it uses a waverider hypersonic warhead.
can maneuver gliding and change orbit , and at the same time, the penetration can reach a moderate level of Mach 10 or above, which is a nightmare for active air defense interceptors.
You must know that active air defense interceptors are intercepted after calculating the trajectory of the incoming missile. However, the Dongfeng-17 takes an unusual path and adopts a gliding trajectory. The interception system cannot calculate its trajectory, and the interceptor missile can only wait and miss.
Dongfeng-31AG is an improvement on the Dongfeng-31A with a range of about 11,200 kilometers. The range of
is longer than that of Dongfeng-31A.
Dongfeng-31AG can carry multiple nuclear warheads . The speed after re-entering the atmosphere is about Mach 15, which is a complete nightmare for anti-missile interception systems.
(Dongfeng-31AG intercontinental ballistic missile)
Dongfeng-31AG is equipped with integrated TEL missile launch vehicle , which not only has strong maneuverability and off-road capabilities, but also has unsupported launch capabilities and can launch in a short time Status,
improves launch success rate and battlefield survivability.
Dongfeng-41 is my country's latest solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile . It can carry 10 independently guided nuclear warheads. Its range is about 14,000 kilometers. . It can strike anywhere in the world when launched from the mainland.
( Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile )
The maximum speed of Dongfeng-41 is about 26 Mach , and the circular probability error is about 100 meters . Dongfeng-41 missile , with its penetration speed of Mach 26, can completely defeat the active anti-missile system. I can only watch it slip by quickly in front of my eyes, but there is nothing I can do.
It is said that Dongfeng-41 has two launch modes: land-based road launch vehicle and missile train . Both of these methods can greatly improve its survivability.
Dongfeng-5B is the latest liquid intercontinental ballistic missile currently in the hands of the People's Liberation Army, mainly replacing the previous Dongfeng-5 series missiles.
Due to the special characteristics of Dongfeng-5B, it can only be launched from solid missile silos.
(Dongfeng-5B intercontinental ballistic missile)
Don’t look down upon it because it is a liquid ballistic missile. It is currently the longest-range and most powerful ballistic missile in the hands of the People's Liberation Army. Its range is about 15,000 kilometers. It can carry about 10 or so separately guided nuclear warheads. It can penetrate defenses at a speed exceeding 15 Mach . The anti-missile system has no foundation at all. It can't be intercepted.
The powerful power of Dongfeng-5B is mainly due to the huge advantages brought by liquid fuel. This is also an important reason why the People's Liberation Army is reluctant to phase out liquid intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Dongfeng 31AG, Dongfeng-41 and Dongfeng-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles together create a new generation of land-based strategic nuclear strike system for the People's Liberation Army.
The Rocket Force has not only achieved an improvement in quantity, but also in quality. It has become an important weapon to protect China's security. At the same time, it plays a key role in an asymmetric strategy to deal with possible outbreaks in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and even possible conflicts between China and the United States. And other issues.
The People's Liberation Army develops its military strength not to infringe on others' interests, but to protect its own interests from losses.
