CENTRE FOR AIR POWER STUDIES

The PLA will now have a new system of services and arms under the leadership of the CMC. [...] The purpose of this restructuring is being seen as another step towards building a strong military and establishing a new system of services and arms to transition into a modern military force structure.2 The significance of this change is profound and is likely to have far-reaching effects on the PLAs operational efficiency, particularly in the field of informatisation of battlespaces. [...] The ISF is the first force to be created out of the SSF by virtue of the importance being given to the informatisation of the PLA forces. [...] While the ISF will integrate PLA’s joint operation system and provide the backbone for an informatised PLA, it remains to be seen whether the aerospace force and cyber force are realigned under the ISF or emerge as separate entities with some support from the ISF. [...] Finally, the reorganisation and formation of an aerospace force within the PLA is a step towards China’s efforts to counter the threat from the US space force.