People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force


The People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force is the cyber-, space-, and electronic-warfare service branch of China's People's Liberation Army. It was established in December 2015 as part of the first wave of the Chinese military reforms.

History

Initial announcements did not provide much detail, but Yang Yujun of the Chinese Ministry of Defense described it as a combination of all support forces. Commentators speculate that it will include high-tech operations including space, cyberspace and electronic warfare operations, independent of other branches of the military. Another expert, Yin Zhuo, said that "the major mission of the PLA Strategic Support Force is to give support to the combat operations so that the PLA can gain regional advantages in the space warfare and cyber warfare domains, and to ensure smooth operations."

Structure

Functionally and structurally, the Strategic Support Force operates like the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force. The SSF is formed from the units responsible for space, cyber, and electronic warfare in the former General Staff Department, General Political Department, and General Armaments Department. It is believed to have at least 5 departments, though debate has existed in Western commentary over the existence of a possible sixth department dedicated to equipment.

Space Systems Department

The is the consolidation of all PLA's space-based C4ISR systems. As of 2018 it's headed by Lieutenant General Shang Hong, with Lieutenant General Kang Chunyuan acting as political commissar.
The is the integration of all PLA information and cyberwarfare capabilities and is believed to have taken over many of the capabilities previously held by the Third and Fourth Departments of the PLA. As of 2018 it was headed by Lieutenant General Zheng Junjie, with Lieutenant General Chai Shaoling as political commissar, both of whom are also serving members of the 13th National People's Congress. Under its control, along with numerous military bases spread around China, is a department called the "Information Engineering University", which in turn has under its control numerous military academies around China.
List of military bases under the NSD:
In addition, there are the military academies and other departments under the control of the IEU, found below;