PLA Rocket Force Brigade Refines Underground Rapid Launch and Crew Cross-Training Drills

A PLA Rocket Force brigade operating out of deep-mountain underground facilities has conducted midnight rapid-launch and withdrawal exercises to test combat readiness, according to reports published by PLA Daily and People's Daily. The brigade emphasized standardized maintenance routines, including daily checks that recently flagged a sub-threshold voltage anomaly in a power supply module before launch precision could be compromised. Additionally, the unit introduced technical modifications and cross-functional crew reassignments to sustain multi-wave counter-strikes following simulated chemical casualties.

The coverage illustrates how China's strategic missile forces are pursuing incremental operational gains through standardized maintenance, specialized equipment fixes, and modular crew flexibility. By prioritizing rapid deployment, fault prevention, and attrition survivability in fortified underground bunkers, the Rocket Force aims to secure operational continuity and immediate counter-strike readiness under high-intensity combat conditions.

A People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force brigade recently conducted midnight simulated rapid-launch and retreat training inside a deep-mountain underground facility, according to reports by PLA Daily and People's Daily. Following the simulated strikes, participating combat units returned to base to execute immediate status-restoration operations, including system parameter recalibration, signal link testing, and fuel replenishment. To maintain peak combat readiness, the brigade has instituted a standardized maintenance framework governed by daily inspections, weekly maintenance, and monthly overhauls. During a recent routine inspection, operators detected an abnormal output voltage in a power supply module. Although the fluctuation remained well below standard fault thresholds, technical experts determined it could induce targeting inaccuracies. The brigade conducted technical consultations and launched a unit-wide inspection to eliminate potential operational risks. To compress deployment preparation times without sacrificing safety standards, personnel within the brigade have introduced several operational innovations. A squad leader in a testing group designed dozens of specialized custom jigs and optimized ground-wire setup procedures. Combined with command-level procedural adjustments—such as dual-person synchronized disassembly methods and pre-positioned preparation steps—the unit succeeded in streamlining launch prep times. These procedures were subsequently validated by technical experts and adopted across the brigade. Training exercises also focused on crew survivability and operational continuity under severe combat disruption. During a simulated night-time chemical attack that caused mock casualties on the launch pad, unit commanders ordered immediate protective measures and evacuated vehicles from the contaminated area. Surviving personnel were subsequently regrouped and merged with other launch crews to form two reconstituted launch teams. These restructured teams seamlessly executed two successive waves of simulated counter-launch strikes, demonstrating cross-functional adaptability designed to maintain firing capacity during sustained combat operations.