Air Defence Command & Control Systems

Last updated: 9 May 2007

The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) operates a number of automated air defence command and control systems (ADCCS) that consist of radar, data communications, computers, displays and software. These systems are designed to collect, transmit, and process information and intelligence in both peace and war time as well as to provide command and control for combat units in the battlefield. So far a number of systems for different roles have been developed.

First-Generation Automated Air Defence Command & Control System

In May 1979, the PLAAF and the Chinese 4th Ministry of Machinery Industry (now Ministry of Information Industry) decided to jointly develop China’s first-generation automated ADCCS. The system would include a radar intelligence transmission and processing system known as “Regiment Station System” (RSS), and an automated fighter control system for ground-control interception missions known as “Guidance System” (GS).

The RSS first became functional in 1983. The system adopted a dual-central computer architecture, new 3D air surveillance radar, and manual and automated data inputting equipments, linked by a digital communication network based on UHF radio and microwave links. The system featured high information transmission speed and quality. The system reliability was ensured by the adoption of a number of new technologies including the hardware and software redundancy design, system monitoring, and self error detection and diagnosis.

The GS was first introduced in 1984. The system was able to automatically process the target information forwarded from different radar stations and automatically calculate the best solution for an interception mission, and then direct the interceptor fighters to the targets. The challenge of the programme was to ensure the flexibility of the system software and the reliability and continuity of the information being forwarded by the radar stations. 28th Institute responded to the challenges by introducing redundancy in the mission software design and using multiple source of information to improve the reliability and accuracy. A mobile GS was also introduced later.

Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile Test Command and Control System

First introduced in 1985, this system was developed to support the live fire tests of the short-range air-to-air missile (AAM). The system used the Type 171 precision tracking and ranging radar developed by 14th Institute and CRT-based user interface and text-based operator terminals developed by 28th Institute. The system has been used by the PLAAF Missile Test Regiment for live AAM testing.

Surface-to-Air Missile Brigade/Regiment Command & Control System

Introduced in 1988 by 14th and 50th Institute, this system adopted the advanced all-solid phased-array radar and tactical data communication system.

Air Force Theatre Automated Command & Control

Developed by 28th Institute in 1989, this system was based on a distributed computing architecture. A dual databus linked various different types of data equipment to form a network. The system also adopted a number of new technologies including the multiple function displays, operator/commander terminal displays, and system real-time monitoring. The decision making was assisted by an expert system (knowledge-based system) programme and the system fully supported Chinese character display.