PLA Anti-Air Missile (SAM) systems

sequ

Captain
Registered Member
People overestimate the range of the HQ-9 considerably in absence of official data. IMO the HQ-9 has a range of ~125-150km comparable to the Russian 48N6. The HQ-9A has ~200 km range comparable to the 48N6D and the HQ-9B has ~250 km range comparable to the 48N6DM.
 

Tam

Brigadier
Registered Member
So basically China currently has 3 tiers of modern AAMs

Long range:
HQ-9 / HHQ-9 naval versions / FD2000 export version (300+km,41km)
HQ-22 / KS-1 / FK-3 export version (170km,27km)

Low-medium range:
DK-10A / Sky Dragon 50 / PL-12 (50km,20km)
HQ-16 / HHQ-16 naval versions / LY-80 export version (40km,18km)

Low range:
LY-60 / FD-60 / PL10 / PL11 (18km,12km)
HQ-10 / FL3000 (9km,6km)
TY-90


Are there any that I missed out? Some questions:
Is the LY-60 considered a replacement for the HQ-7?
Is there a missile being developed for quadpacking? The naval side seems a bit lacking compared to Western quadpackable missiles like ESSM, CAMM


LY-60 is dead product. I think that's the export version of HQ-61, which was installed on the Jiangwei 053H1 to H2, and by the H3, it was replaced by HQ-7.

You also forgot to add HQ-17 on the list for short range. HQ-17 appears to be on the gradual replacement of HQ-7.

DK-10A aka Skydragon 50 is the one supposed to be quad packed. But for some reason it is not accepted by the PLAN. Skydragon 50 remains to be an export product only where it has already has some installed customers.

There is talk about the 5-5-5 quad packed missile, which stands for Mach 5, 50 kilometers, not sure what the other 5 is, but it could be 5km height.
 

ougoah

Brigadier
Registered Member
LY-60 is dead product. I think that's the export version of HQ-61, which was installed on the Jiangwei 053H1 to H2, and by the H3, it was replaced by HQ-7.

You also forgot to add HQ-17 on the list for short range. HQ-17 appears to be on the gradual replacement of HQ-7.

DK-10A aka Skydragon 50 is the one supposed to be quad packed. But for some reason it is not accepted by the PLAN. Skydragon 50 remains to be an export product only where it has already has some installed customers.

There is talk about the 5-5-5 quad packed missile, which stands for Mach 5, 50 kilometers, not sure what the other 5 is, but it could be 5km height.

What is this 5-5-5 quad pack SAM? Is it for Type 055 VLS? or land based SAM?

Mach 5 is incredible SAM speeds. I think most of the world's fastest are basically around mach 4 top speed? 50km puts it around mid block HQ-16 range levels. Is this 5-5-5 SAM a HQ-16 based missile or DK-10/PL-12 staged boost missile?
 

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
LY-60 is dead product. I think that's the export version of HQ-61, which was installed on the Jiangwei 053H1 to H2, and by the H3, it was replaced by HQ-7.

You also forgot to add HQ-17 on the list for short range. HQ-17 appears to be on the gradual replacement of HQ-7.

DK-10A aka Skydragon 50 is the one supposed to be quad packed. But for some reason it is not accepted by the PLAN. Skydragon 50 remains to be an export product only where it has already has some installed customers.

There is talk about the 5-5-5 quad packed missile, which stands for Mach 5, 50 kilometers, not sure what the other 5 is, but it could be 5km height.
Seems like for all ranges PLA is going to have modern versions soon (HQ-9C for long range, 555 missile for medium range, HQ-17 or FM2000 for short range).

But short range still seems like a mess with a a mix of really old missiles like HQ-7, LY-60 and gun systems like PGZ-95 gun+manpad, PGZ-09 gun, LD-2000 and then there's the HQ-10 that is naval only and looks unsuitable for vehicles.

I am really looking forward to the 555 missile. The HQ-16 seems really outdated and bulky compared to modern versions like EESM.
 

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
Some questions about the HQ-17 short range SAM:

1. Some websites claim that the HQ-17A wheeled version carries 16 missiles while the HQ-17 tracked version only carries 8. Is that true? I find it hard to believe given their small size difference
3312325_1000.jpg




2. For both the wheeled HQ-17A and tracked HQ-17, do the missiles extend beyond the top cab with the radars?
%E5%BE%AE%E4%BF%A1%E5%9B%BE%E7%89%87_20200908001448-jpg.63445

I was under the impression that the top cab can spin around to direct its front tracking radar, but seeing the length of the missile in this photo, it seems impossible not to extend into the vehicle itself
 

The Observer

Junior Member
Registered Member
Some questions about the HQ-17 short range SAM:

1. Some websites claim that the HQ-17A wheeled version carries 16 missiles while the HQ-17 tracked version only carries 8. Is that true? I find it hard to believe given their small size difference
3312325_1000.jpg




2. For both the wheeled HQ-17A and tracked HQ-17, do the missiles extend beyond the top cab with the radars?
%E5%BE%AE%E4%BF%A1%E5%9B%BE%E7%89%87_20200908001448-jpg.63445

I was under the impression that the top cab can spin around to direct its front tracking radar, but seeing the length of the missile in this photo, it seems impossible not to extend into the vehicle itself

Yes, the missile does extend into the vehicle itself. Pay attention to the missile containers in loading. The number of missiles is restricted by the width of the turret basket due to the need of fitting the rear part of the missile into the vehicle.

As for the HQ-17A having 16 missiles instead of 8, I did read some news/ rumors (closer to rumors I say) about Russian Tor getting new and more compact missiles that increases its missile capacity from 8 to 16. Since HQ-17 and its development is a branch of Russian Tor, maybe that's where the claim comes from?
 

sndef888

Senior Member
Registered Member
Yes, the missile does extend into the vehicle itself. Pay attention to the missile containers in loading. The number of missiles is restricted by the width of the turret basket due to the need of fitting the rear part of the missile into the vehicle.

As for the HQ-17A having 16 missiles instead of 8, I did read some news/ rumors (closer to rumors I say) about Russian Tor getting new and more compact missiles that increases its missile capacity from 8 to 16. Since HQ-17 and its development is a branch of Russian Tor, maybe that's where the claim comes from?
Thanks for that clarification.


There is a RT documentary where they interview the makers of Tor and they say it has 16 missiles.

But HQ-17 development is not related to Tor since it is reverse engineered, not cooperated. And the picture above of the wheeled variant looks like only 8 missiles. Too bad the picture quality is just a bit too low to confirm
 
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