PLA Anti-Air Missile (SAM) systems

[Gloire_bb]

Uh, what?

Granted that I'm not well-versed in SAM systems, but HQ-19 and HQ-16FE certainly aren't in the same league/tier.

HQ-19 is basically a THAAD (if not also -ER)-counterpart, whereas HQ-16FE is basically in the same category (albeit perhaps not a direct counterpart) as the PAC-2/3 MSE.

HQ-20*
my mistake

 

[Gogurt4ever]

HQ-20*
my mistake

Is there a list of the major SAM-systems in Chinese service right now, and their roles/US analogues? I feel like China has twice as many missile types, despite not practicing the naval/surface distinction like the US does.

 

[Mmmeeeto]

HQ-20 is actually better for the role - way more ammo (LACM intercept), can provide ABM, range is matched to stealth aircraft engagement capabilities(which it has); finally, no huge minimum range of S-300/HQ-9 series, you can pack one system instead of two and expect things to be covered for the time being (or, in a brave new drone world, rather 2 instead of 3). It doesn't need HQ-11, and overall has much smaller footprint.

AFAIK, there's nothing that indicates HQ-20 being ABM capable

 

[Cloud_Nine_]

Afawk all sensors assigned to HQ-20 units are low frequency. It's very unlikely they are intended for ballistic/aeroballistic targets. It seems like PLAAF treats it as sort of supplement and amplifier. Otherwise it wouldn't make too much sense for it to be deployed with HQ-12 and S300PMU units. Could be a slow phase out situation for the older systems too.

 

[Totoro]

Speaking of Hq16 looks like Hq16 units are getting hq16fe radar now
View attachment 175395View attachment 175396View attachment 175397

Wait, that is just one unit?? It shows 9 launchers and 3 engagement radars!!! 3 launchers per radar? If all that is in a single battery - that's unheard of. Only Nasams batteries have something similar, with 3 fire units, each with a radar, but that's a much smaller system and a simpler, cheaper radar.

 

[bsdnf]

Wait, that is just one unit?? It shows 9 launchers and 3 engagement radars!!! 3 launchers per radar? If all that is in a single battery - that's unheard of. Only Nasams batteries have something similar, with 3 fire units, each with a radar, but that's a much smaller system and a simpler, cheaper radar.

A battalion I think

 

[Blitzo]

AFAIK, there's nothing that indicates HQ-20 being ABM capable

Being "ABM capable" is not a big deal these days, because the "BM" part of "ABM" (i.e.: ballistic missiles) covers such a large breadth of weapons.

Having ABM capability against short range ballistic missiles, for example, is something that most modern MR-LR SAMs have a degree of capability against even if they are primarily oriented for air breathing threats.

 

[...........]

Hq16 new 2d Aesa radar which the hq16fe radar

https://imgur.com/a/OpXayFh

 

[Tomboy]

Is there a list of the major SAM-systems in Chinese service right now, and their roles/US analogues? I feel like China has twice as many missile types, despite not practicing the naval/surface distinction like the US does.

Type	Role	Branch	Closest foreign equivalent
HQ-6A/B/D	SHORAD	PLAAF	Skyguard-Aspide/Avenger
HQ-7A	SHORAD	PLAGF	Crotale (Reverse engineered)
H(H)Q-9/B	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF/PLAN	S-300/400
H(H)Q-9C	HIMAD/AMB	PLAAF/PLAN	Patriot PAC-3 MSE
HQ-10	SHORAD	PLAN	RIM-116 RAM
HQ-11	Short-medium range air defense	PLAAF	IRIS-T SLM/NASAMS
HQ-12A/B/C/D	Medium range air defense/Limited ABM	PLAAF	MIM-23 series
HQ-13 (FB-10)	SHORAD	PLAGF	Type 93 SAM
HQ-15 (FK-3000)	Anti-cluster/drone VSHORAD	PLAGF	Pantsir SMD-E
H(H)Q-16A/B/C/D(?)/FE	Medium range air defense/ABM	PLAGF/PLAN	Buk series/IRIS-T SLX
HQ-17/A	SHORAD	PLAGF	Tor-M (Reverse engineered)
HQ-19	Exoatmospheric ABM	PLAAF	THAAD-ER
HQ-20	Dedicated SAM for aerodynamic LO targets (?)	PLAAF	N/A (Couldn't really think of any equivalent)
HQ-22/A	Medium-long range air defense	PLAAF	Patriot PAC-2
HQ-29	Mid course interceptor/ASAT	PLAAF	KEI/Nudol
S-300PMU/PMU-2	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF	Literally just S-300
S-400	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF	Just a normal S-400

AFAIK, these are all the in service PLA SAMs that I can name off the top of my head and their closest equivalent, though HQ-7 and HQ-6 probably have already been fully phased out by now. I also heard S-300PMU has been mostly phased out as well and it's just S-300PMU-2 left, HQ-12 possibly might have also been mostly gone by now.

 

[sequ]

Type	Role	Branch	Closest foreign equivalent
HQ-6A/B/D	SHORAD	PLAAF	Skyguard-Aspide/Avenger
HQ-7A	SHORAD	PLAGF	Crotale (Reverse engineered)
H(H)Q-9/B	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF/PLAN	S-300/400
H(H)Q-9C	HIMAD/AMB	PLAAF/PLAN	Patriot PAC-3 MSE
HQ-10	SHORAD	PLAN	RIM-116 RAM
HQ-11	Short-medium range air defense	PLAAF	IRIS-T SLM/NASAMS
HQ-12A/B/C/D	Medium range air defense/Limited ABM	PLAAF	MIM-23 series
HQ-13 (FB-10)	SHORAD	PLAGF	Type 93 SAM
HQ-15 (FK-3000)	Anti-cluster/drone VSHORAD	PLAGF	Pantsir SMD-E
H(H)Q-16A/B/C/D(?)/FE	Medium range air defense/ABM	PLAGF/PLAN	Buk series/IRIS-T SLX
HQ-17/A	SHORAD	PLAGF	Tor-M (Reverse engineered)
HQ-19	Exoatmospheric ABM	PLAAF	THAAD-ER
HQ-20	Dedicated SAM for aerodynamic LO targets (?)	PLAAF	N/A (Couldn't really think of any equivalent)
HQ-22/A	Medium-long range air defense	PLAAF	Patriot PAC-2
HQ-29	Mid course interceptor/ASAT	PLAAF	KEI/Nudol
S-300PMU/PMU-2	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF	Literally just S-300
S-400	Long range air defense/ABM	PLAAF	Just a normal S-400

AFAIK, these are all the in service PLA SAMs that I can name off the top of my head and their closest equivalent, though HQ-7 and HQ-6 probably have already been fully phased out by now. I also heard S-300PMU has been mostly phased out as well and it's just S-300PMU-2 left, HQ-12 possibly might have also been mostly gone by now.

HQ-20 closest foreign equivalent should be the S-350.