In combat drill, China's rocket force launches new missiles in desert

A missile unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) rocket force successfully launched two new missiles in a recent combat drill under extreme conditions in the desert area of northwest China.

Despite the harsh geographical conditions, low temperature and sandstorms on the highland, the officers and men successfully launched two new-type missiles, thus off to a good start in its annual training.

To enhance the troop's emergency response capacity, the commander sent several launching units with military equipment to different positions. All units thus carried out launching preparations at the same, and got ready for the firing. At the last moment, the commander gave order to a random unit to fire.

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"All the launching units were put in place and only our unit was lucky enough to be picked to fire and launch the missiles," said Cui Chengxin, deputy company commander.

After launching the missiles, the unit was ordered to launch another strike. The soldiers soon moved to another position in an emergency, and got ready to fire.

To shorten the transfer time, the soldiers moved swiftly, replenished ammunition as soon as possible, and then took the new launching position in time as required.

"The field training was conducted with the requirements for real combat and we have further subdivided it into finer segments according to the complicated conditions of the future battlefields and organized action according to subjects and targets to test the real combat capabilities of the unit," said Jing Xiaopeng, deputy commander of the unit.

It was learned that during the drills, the unit also carried out trans-regional, long-time, high-intensity and multiple-situation training to raise the unit's quick response abilities and their sustainability in combat.

"We have brought the troops to the harshest environment for training in that we want them to hone on their skills that are best coping with the dangerous and difficult environment so as to really realize the best integration between man and equipment," said Yao Wenshan, commander of the unit.