Water in Missile Propulsion Tanks?
China's Rocket Force Uses Solid Rocket Fuel
China In Arms BOOKSTORE and GIFT SHOP!
Follow on Twitter
Enjoy China In Arms on the big screen!
Subscribe: $5 Month/$50 Annual (unable to secure a subscription contact the bank for permission for Stripe deposits).
12 January 2024 (Friday)
Water in Missile Propulsion Tanks?
China's Rocket Force Uses Solid Rocket Fuel
By Wendell Minnick (Whiskey Mike) 顏文德
TAIPEI - In July 2023, three top officers from the Rocket Force, a PLA branch overseeing China’s tactical and nuclear missiles, disappeared.
Then in August, the former defence minister - and ex-Rocket Force head - Wei Fenghe, was accused of corruption. The next defence minister Li Shangfu - who previously led equipment procurement - was removed in October.
And at the end of December, nine senior PLA officials were removed from China’s top legislature, with Rocket Force commanders and officers from the equipment department among them.
International media reported that U.S. intelligence sources indicated that Rocket Force personnel had filled fuel tanks of ballistic missiles with water.
However, except for the older Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM), virtually all of China’s offensive ballistic missiles use solid rocket fuel.
Liquid fueled rockets are too unstable and dangerous. This is why solid propellant is used.
So the international media must be smoking weed.
So why did key members of the Rocket Force disappear?
Corruption can take other forms, but it is unlikely to have been about water in the fuel tanks.
Please consult my books that use solid vs. liquid propellant: