China’s new Aerospace Force is centralizing the nation’s military reach into the final frontier

Nature · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Established in April 2024, the PLA Aerospace Force represents a major shift in Chinese military structure. By consolidating space-based assets and C4ISR systems under one dedicated service, Beijing aims to enhance its ability to conduct all-domain operations, signaling a new era of integrated warfare in the western Pacific and beyond.

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Aerospace Force was formally established on 19 April 2024, following a significant restructuring that dissolved the former Strategic Support Force. This new service branch is responsible for military space operations, including the command of China's military satellite fleet and the administration of four major spaceports: Jiuquan, Taiyuan, Wenchang, and Xichang. By centralizing these assets, the force aims to improve the PLA’s capacity for joint, all-domain operations, ensuring that space capabilities are mutually reinforcing with air, missile, and naval forces.

Beyond launch operations, the Aerospace Force manages a vast infrastructure of research and control facilities. This includes the Beijing Aerospace Flight Control Center, which oversees crewed missions, and specialized centers in Xi'an and Jiangyin for telemetry and tracking. The force also maintains the Malan Nuclear Test Base, the site of China's historical nuclear weapons program, and various research institutes focused on aerodynamics, metrology, and satellite navigation. As of 2024, the force is estimated to operate 245 military satellites, ranging from reconnaissance and signals intelligence platforms to early warning systems for ballistic missile launches.

This reorganization is explicitly intended to support China's broader strategic goals, including deterrence and high-intensity regional conflict. By integrating space-based C4ISR systems—command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance—the Aerospace Force complements the PLA’s anti-access and area-denial posture. Whether through the operation of robotic spaceplanes or the management of the BeiDou navigation system, the service is designed to complicate operational planning for regional rivals, ensuring that China maintains a persistent, informationized presence across the western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

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