A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force unit has conducted a live-fire combat exercise under high-temperature, high-humidity conditions in what state media referred to as the “Lingnan jungle,” a region likely within the PLA’s Southern Theater Command.
The exercise featured China’s DF-10A land-attack cruise missile system, armed with the CJ-10A missile — a platform originally derived from the Russian Kh-55 (NATO name AS-15 Kent).
Footage aired on Chinese state television showed multiple transporter-erector-launchers (TELs) maneuvering through dense vegetation before conducting simulated launch operations. The exercise appeared designed to test the PLA Rocket Force’s operational readiness in tropical environments, where temperature, moisture, and concealment present distinct tactical challenges.
The DF-10A, reportedly manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation’s Third Academy and the China Haiying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy, is a ground-launched cruise missile with an estimated range of 1,500 to 2,500 kilometers. It is deployed in three-missile launcher configurations, with TELs featuring an extended cabin believed to function as a command post.
A 🇨🇳PLA Rocket Force unit conducted a combat exercise with high temperature & high humidity conditions in the “Lingnan jungle” (most likely Southern Theater Command) with their CJ-10A (derived from 🇷🇺Kh-55) land-attack cruise missiles
(via wb/沉默的山羊) pic.twitter.com/tlm6ZgeWuR— Jesus Roman (@jesusfroman) June 21, 2025
According to open-source data, the missile system uses a combination of satellite navigation, inertial guidance, and terrain-following radar, making it difficult to jam or deceive. The warhead carries a 500-kilogram payload and is designed for precision strikes, reportedly with an accuracy of less than 10 meters.
The CJ-10A’s reported capability to evade radar detection makes it a potential threat to targets across the Russian Far East and Siberia, should such a scenario arise. With its extended range and precision, analysts say the DF-10A could strike high-value military installations and strategic infrastructure deep inside enemy territory, if ordered.
The missile system’s design and operational profile resemble those of earlier Russian cruise missile programs, but Chinese industry has reportedly refined the system over years of domestic development. The four-axle TEL used in the latest drills appears to offer increased mobility and command-and-control flexibility compared to earlier variants.
China’s recent exercises, including this one in southern terrain, reflect a growing emphasis on flexible, rapid deployment capabilities and combat readiness across diverse operational theaters. The PLA has ramped up missile training in recent months amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific and an evolving security environment near its borders.