The Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), founded on July 1, 1966, is composed of ground-to-ground strategic missile troops and conventional warfare tactical missile troops. The ground-to-ground missile troops are a nuclear deterrence and strategic nuclear counterattack force with a considerable scale and hold actual combat capabilities. (Source: china.org.cn)

The ground-to-ground troops are composed of short, medium, long-range and intercontinental ballistic missile troops; engineering troops; combat support, armament technology support and logistics service troops. Conventional warfare tactical missile troops, equipped with the weapon systems, can perform urgent tasks and fulfill sudden attack response requirements. (Source: china.org.cn)

A display of the Second Artillery Force of the PLA.(Source: china.org.cn)

The Second Artillery Force of the PLA has made rapid progress in the past 19 years. It has more than 1,500 medium and short-range ballistic missiles and is developing new types of war zone ballistic missiles and land-based cruise missiles. (Source: china.org.cn)

As a fire support, missiles play an important role in any potential regional warfare. (Source: china.org.cn)

In times of crisis, a potential task for Chinese conventional missile troops is to provide military deterrence, including power displays and performing "surgical strikes" on key enemy targets. During wartime, conventional missile troops will provide preliminary or direct fire support for operations of all services and armies of the PLA, so as to seize the leading position in air, sea, ground and information, or conduct follow-up operations. (Source: china.org.cn)

During wartime, operations are usually commanded by joint headquarters, especially in fire strike and anti-air raid operations. However, conventional missile troops can also organize "independent" missile attack formations. In the 40-odd years' history of the Second Artillery Force, all strategic planning, build-up and operational programs have been targeted at nuclear deterrence, anti-nuclear deterrence, and nuclear counterattack. (Source: china.org.cn)

Since 1994, the Second Artillery Force, based on its strategic nuclear missile troops, has founded and developed conventional missile troops, with the scale accounting for one-fourth of the force's total. (Source: china.org.cn)

In recent years, the Second Artillery Force has promoted combat effectiveness and scope of its conventional missiles to make the fire range for short-range missiles exceed 1,000 kilometers. (Source: china.org.cn)

The Chinese authorities approved development of the Dongfeng-11 ground-to-ground ballistic missile in Base-066 in 1979. In May 1979, a Chinese delegation went to Egypt on an inspection tour to examine "Scud" ground-to-ground missiles produced by the Soviet Union. The delegation finally received a sample vehicle of the MAZ-543 missile carrier. (Source: china.org.cn)

After returning home, the Chinese delegation proposed feasibility study on ground-to-ground tactical missiles. Then Vice Premier Wang Zhen ordered an overall design at a base in Hubei Province. In 1986, the first WS-580 chassis sample vehicle's trial production was successful. The design was finalized in 1991. (Source: china.org.cn)

After returning home, the Chinese delegation proposed feasibility study on ground-to-ground tactical missiles. Then Vice Premier Wang Zhen ordered an overall design at a base in Hubei Province. In 1986, the first WS-580 chassis sample vehicle's trial production was successful. The design was finalized in 1991.  (Source: china.org.cn)

After returning home, the Chinese delegation proposed feasibility study on ground-to-ground tactical missiles. Then Vice Premier Wang Zhen ordered an overall design at a base in Hubei Province. In 1986, the first WS-580 chassis sample vehicle's trial production was successful. The design was finalized in 1991. (Source: china.org.cn)

The Dongfeng-15 Ballistic Missile was developed in 1985, and was first test fired in 1987. The test lasted from late 1980s to early 1990s. However, a small number of missiles were still delivered to the Second Artillery Force for operation as early as in 1989. (Source: china.org.cn)

The Dongfeng-15 Ballistic Missile looks "short and thick" due to its cone-likehead and rounded cylindrical body. It has four small tail units and adopts a TEL vehicle for vertical launch. The chassis of the launch vehicle uses a TA-5450S type produced by the Tai'an Special Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. This technology came from the MAZ-543 chassis series. (Source: china.org.cn)