Satellite images, maps and records reveal surge in China's missile production
15 days ago
- #Global Security
- #Missile Expansion
- #China Military
- China has significantly expanded missile production facilities since 2020, increasing constructed floor space by over 21 million square feet.
- More than 60% of 136 facilities linked to missile production or the Chinese military’s rocket force show signs of expansion.
- The expansion includes factories, research centers, and testing sites, with new infrastructure like towers and bunkers visible in satellite imagery.
- China’s missile production is part of a broader military modernization effort under Xi Jinping, aiming to transform the PLA into a 'world-class' force.
- The PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) oversees China’s nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal, described as a 'core of strategic deterrence.'
- China’s missile production supports its strategy to deter the US Navy, particularly in potential conflicts over Taiwan.
- CNN identified 99 missile manufacturing sites, with 65 showing expansion, and 37 Rocket Force bases, with 22 expanded in the last five years.
- China’s defense budget grew by 7.2% in 2024, marking the fourth consecutive year of significant increases.
- The US faces supply issues with advanced defense systems like THAAD, while China ramps up missile production.
- China’s missile production surged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Beijing nearly doubling expansion rates at production sites.
- The PLA learns from conflicts like Ukraine, focusing on overwhelming air defenses with drones and ballistic missiles.
- Corruption within the PLA, including high-ranking officials linked to the Rocket Force, raises questions about combat readiness.
- CNN’s analysis used satellite imagery and government notices to identify and locate missile production sites, including previously unreported facilities.
- China’s DF-26 medium-range ballistic missile, dubbed the 'Guam killer,' is a key focus of production expansion.
- Experts warn that China’s missile buildup is reshaping global security, with some describing the current situation as a 'cold war.'