The U.S.-based China Aerospace Studies Institute in its report in August 2021, stated that on 13
August, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF) conducted a live fire missile launch,
likely from the 1st Test and Training District in Jilantai. The missiles impacted at least two targets
parked on the apron of the runway at the PLARF’s Ruqiang Target Impact Area which is roughly
1400km west of Jilantai. It said the lack of observed cratering beyond two target impacts suggests
the PLARF used unitary warheads for both missiles. The two targets were almost certainly
simulating unsheltered aircraft at an airbase. Given the PLA’s wide definition of jamming, the
warheads could be fitted with electro-optical, infrared, or a radar-based guidance system that is
jam-resistant. Individuals associated with 613 Brigade have published articles discussing radar
signal processing, suggesting that some of the warheads used by 613 Brigade have a radar guidance
system, although there is no way to determine if such research efforts are tied to the warheads used
on 13 August. The impact area also reveals no substantive improvements to warhead accuracy or
destructive power. This missile launch event almost certainly featured a new system of some kind
and indicates that the PLARF has modernized yet another missile brigade with a Taiwan-centric
mission set. The China Aerospace Studies Institute assessed, however, that this new system does
not appear to represent a dramatic improvement in PLARF capabilities. Rather, the PLA likely
intends to create a deterrent effect by highlighting what is a relatively limited improvement in
capability. The PLA openly talks about revealing advanced weapons and conducting military
exercises as ways of deterring or coercing its adversaries. With each deterrent activity, the PLA
emphasizes the need for there to be some real capability behind the activity, demonstrated resolve,
and for the information on the activity to be transmitted to the adversary’s population. In this
instance, there is some limited capability behind the activity, in that the weapon system in question
is real and marginally improves the PLARF’s overall capabilities.
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