The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) is a research institute affiliated with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). Established in 1957 by Qian Xuesen, it is headquartered in Fengtai, Beijing, China.
Its major contribution to China's civilian and military launch capability has been the manufacture of the Long March family of rockets. The current chief designer is Long Lehao ().
CALT is also planning two spaceplanes. They would both be single-stage to space sub-orbital rocketplanes. One would be a 10-ton 4-passenger plane that would fly to 100 km at Mach 6. The other would be a 100-ton 20-passenger plane that would fly to 130 km at Mach 8. They would be equipped with liquid methane/liquid oxygen rocket engines. The larger spaceplane would also be able to carry a strap-on space rocket, making it function as the first stage of a two-stage to orbit space launch platform. That rocket would launch above the Karman line, and lift 1–2 tons to LEO.
History Establishment In October 1956, the was established, with Qian Xuesen serving as president and as political commissar. The academy was organized into eight research departments.
On September 3, 1957, the Chinese government dispatched a delegation headed by Nie Rongzhen, chairman of the Aviation Commission, to the Soviet Union. Beginning on September 10, the delegation held negotiations with a Soviet government delegation led by Mikhail Pervukhin. On September 14, the Soviet side presented the draft agreement. On October 15, China and the Soviet Union signed the Agreement Between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Production of New Weapons and Military Technical Equipment and the Establishment of a Comprehensive Atomic Industry in China, commonly known as the October 15 Agreement or the .
On October 30, 1957, Su Yu, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), together with Deputy Chiefs of the General Staff Huang Kecheng and Chen Geng, convened a meeting attended by Wang Zheng (Director of the PLA Signal Corps), Zhu Ming (Political Commissar of the Signal Corps), Li Qiang (Assistant Minister of Foreign Trade), An Dong (Secretary-General of the Aviation Commission), Qian Xuesen (President of the Fifth Academy), Gu Jingsheng (Political Commissar of the Fifth Academy), Liu Bingyan (Vice President of the Fifth Academy), Lin Shuang (Vice President of the Fifth Academy), and others. The meeting discussed the new circumstances and tasks arising from the October 15 Agreement, as well as the appropriate leadership and organizational structure for missile research. It was unanimously agreed that the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense would serve as the parent institution, exercising unified leadership over both the Fifth Academy and the Military Electronics Scientific Research Institute of the PLA Signal Corps.
On November 15, 1957, Minister of National Defense Peng Dehuai submitted a report to Premier Zhou Enlai recommending that the Fifth Academy become the parent institution overseeing both the Fifth Academy and the Military Electronics Scientific Research Institute. Part of the Fifth Academy would be reorganized into the First Branch Academy of the Fifth Academy, while the Military Electronics Scientific Research Institute would become the Second Branch Academy. Party affairs, administrative management, and logistical support would all be centrally administered by the parent academy.
On November 16, 1957, Premier Zhou Enlai appointed Qian Xuesen as President of the Fifth Academy and concurrently President of the First Branch Academy, with Liu Youguang serving as Political Commissar. Wang Zheng was appointed Vice President of the Fifth Academy and concurrently President of the Second Branch Academy. Gu Jingsheng was reassigned as Deputy Political Commissar of the Fifth Academy and concurrently Political Commissar of the First Branch Academy, while Liu Bingyan became Vice President of the Fifth Academy and concurrently Vice President of the First Branch Academy. On December 9, 1957, Minister of National Defense Peng Dehuai appointed Lin Shuang as Vice President of the First Branch Academy, transferring him from his previous post as Vice President of the Fifth Academy. November 16, 1957—the date on which Premier Zhou Enlai appointed the principal leadership of the Fifth Academy—is recognized as the official founding date of both branch academies.
Development
In November 1964, the First Branch Academy of the Fifth Academy was reorganized as the First Research Academy of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building of the People's Republic of China. In April 1982, as part of a reform of the central government administrative system, the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building was reorganized into the Ministry of Astronautics, and the institute was accordingly renamed the First Research Academy of the Ministry of Astronautics.
In July 1988, the Ministry of Astronautics merged with the Ministry of Aviation Industry to form the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, and the institute was renamed the First Research Academy of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry. In February 1989, the Ministry approved China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) as the institute's second official name, which has remained in use ever since. In June 1993, following the dissolution of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry and the establishment of the China Aerospace Corporation, the institute became the First Research Academy of the China Aerospace Corporation.
In July 1999, pursuant to the decision of the First Session of the 9th National People's Congress and with the approval of the State Council, the China Aerospace Corporation was split into the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and the China Aerospace Machinery and Electronics Corporation (later renamed the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)). The institute was consequently renamed the First Research Academy of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
In 2021, following tests by CALT, United States Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III stated that China was developing and testing a fractional orbital bombardment system.
U.S. sanctions
In August 2020, the United States Department of Defense released the names of "Communist Chinese military companies" operating directly or indirectly in the United States. CALT was included on the list. In November 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order prohibiting U.S. companies and individuals owning shares in companies, including CALT, that the U.S. Department of Defense has listed as having links to the People's Liberation Army.
Leadership Presidents
Qian Xuesen (1957–1960) Liu Xuan (1960–1975) Li Mingshi (1975–1979) Zhang Lianfu (1979–1984) Li Boyong (1984–1986) Wang Yongzhi (1986–1991) Shen Xinsun (1991–1994) Li Jianzhong (1994–2000) Xu Dazhe (2000–2001) Wu Yansheng (2002–2007) Li Hong (2007–) Shen Bo (2024–present)
Political Commissars and Party Secretaries Gu Jingsheng – Political Commissar (1957–1958) Zhang Jun – Political Commissar and Party Secretary (1959–1975) Li Mingshi – Party Secretary (1977–1982) Zhang Lianfu – Acting Party Secretary (1983–1984) Shen Xinsun – Party Secretary (1984–1991) Xiao Dongtai – Party Secretary (1991–1996) Wang Zongyin – Party Secretary (1996–2003) Liang Xiaohong – Party Secretary (2003–2016) Hao Zhaoping – Party Secretary (2016–) Li Minghua - Party Secretary (–2022) Wang Guohui - Party Secretary (2022-)
Subsidiaries China Energine International (Holdings) Limited, or China Energine, is a Hong Kong–based and Cayman Islands-incorporated holding company. The controlling shareholder was Chinese state-owned mega-conglomerate China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). China Energine engages in wind power and telecommunication equipment manufacturing business.
China Long March Rocket Co., Ltd. (CHINA ROCKET) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT). It develops commercial launch vehicles and serves as an operator providing commercial launch services within China. The company's launch vehicle portfolio includes the Long March 2C, Long March 11, the Smart Dragon series (Smart Dragon 1 and Smart Dragon 3), the Long March 8A, and the Long March 10 family (Long March 10B and Long March 10C). Among these, CHINA ROCKET serves as the lead developer for the Smart Dragon series, the Long March 8A, the Long March 10B, and the Long March 10C.
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