force-multiplier

A Low-Visibility Force Multiplier
replaced Song Qin [ 宋 欣 ], who appears to have moved laterally to head up the Second
Academy. Liu served as program manager [ 总 指 挥 ] for two systems and is the deputy
chief of an unidentified GAD Technical Working Group [ 总 装 备 部 某 技 术 专 业 组 副 组
长 ]. 2 Former 33 rd Research Institute Director Cui Yuping [ 崔 玉 平 ] serves as the Third
Academy director’s executive assistant. The Third Academy director is supported by at
least four deputy directors. They include Huang Xingdong [ 黄 兴 东 ], formerly director of
the Third Academy’s 3 rd Department, and Liu Depei [ 刘 德 培 ], Shi Xinxing [ 史 新 兴 ], Wei
Yiyin [ 魏 毅 寅 ], and Xue Liang [ 薛 亮 ]. Huang Xingdong [ 黄 兴 东 ] is the Third Academy
executive deputy director. Son of a founding father of China’s cruise missile program and
formerly in charge of the Third Academy’s systems engineering department, Huang likely
plays a key role in program management. The Third Academy S&T Committee, consisting
primarily of retired senior cruise missile designers, functions as an advisory board. 3
The Academy headquarters is located on Xili Road in Beijing’s Yungang North District.
Systems Engineering
The Third Academy 3 rd Department has overall responsibility for managing cruise
missile R&D programs. Directed by Gao Wenkun [ 高 文 坤 ], the department is also
known as the Beijing Institute of Electro-Mechanical Engineering [ 北 京 机 电 工 程 研 究
所 ]. 4 When a PLA Second Artillery, Navy, or Air Force customer awards an R&D contract
for a cruise missile program, senior Third Academy management appears to assign
a chief designer from the 3 rd Department who leads a team of four to six cruise missile
subsystem designers from within the Third Academy or the broader defense industry. 5
A program manager, often one of the Third Academy deputy directors, is responsible
for administrative tasks associated with an R&D contract. Future design efforts appear
to be focused on six areas: 1) increased range, 2) greater precision, 3) higher reliability,
4) increased weapon system effects, 5) easier maintenance, and 6) improved electronic
counter-countermeasures (ECCM). 6 The Third Academy classifies cruise missiles as
short-range (50 km or less), medium-range (50–120 km), medium-long-range (120–500
km), long-range (500–5,000 km), very long-range (5,000–8,000 km), and intercontinental
(above 8,000 km). 7
Cruise Missile Engine Design
The leading organization for cruise missile engine R&D is the Third Academy 31 st
Research Institute. Also known as the Beijing Power Machinery Institute [ 北 京 动 力 机 械
研 究 ], the 31 st Institute is located in Yungang. 8 Among other endeavors, the 31 st Institute
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