China unveiled several of its latest missile and laser air defense systems at the China 2022 Airshow, held in Zhuhai in southern China’s Guangdong province from Tuesday to Sunday, in a move that experts said showed China is building a world-class comprehensive air defense system. which can protect the earth’s skies from potential attacks.
Although the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force HQ-9B surface-to-air missile weapon system on display at Airshow China was unveiled for the first time, it has been on public display in the past. shot in addition to the previously known.
Eight of this new missile type can be carried by the same transport erector that can carry four of the previously known type, as the new missile is about the same length but obviously thinner than the old one.
The new smaller missiles will likely be part of the HQ-9B and will likely have a shorter range than the old and larger missiles. The smaller size allows one launcher to carry more of them, Wei Dongxu, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on the sidelines of the air day.
Larger missiles will be used to intercept more distant targets, and if the remaining targets get closer, smaller missiles can be used, Wei said. This will improve the HQ-9B’s ability to deal with saturation attacks, he said.
The HQ-9B, independently developed by China, is a new-generation medium-to-long-range surface-to-air missile weapon system used to intercept group attacks and aerial weapons under strong electromagnetic interference, the Global Times reported at the airshow.
As China’s backbone equipment in domestic air defense and anti-missile warfare, it can cover a large area with dense firepower and good anti-jamming capabilities.
The HQ-9B is also available for export under the name HQ-9BE, which was also on display at the China 2022 Airshow.
Another new air defense system debuted at the airshow, the HQ-11 Universal Defense Terminal. It consists of a vehicle equipped with eight vertical missile launch cells and another vehicle equipped with a close range weapon. Both vehicles are equipped with corresponding radar systems.
Wei said the HQ-11 is designed to cover a shorter range than the HQ-9B, but is very fast and mobile so it can accompany valuable assets on the move. It’s like putting a ship-based air defense system on the ground.
The Global Times found that another advantage of the HQ-11 is its versatility, as it can be used not only by the PLA Air Force, but also by the Army and Navy. It can intercept air-to-surface missiles, cruise bombs, cruise missiles, and other airborne weapons such as fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
China also unveiled its fourth-generation advanced air defense equipment, the HQ-16FE medium-to-long-range air defense missile weapon system, for the first time. Developed by the eighth academy of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, the system’s transportable erector launch system can carry six missiles at once.
The HQ-16FE can engage various types of targets, including manned aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic missiles in a very intelligent and aggressive manner.
Compared to its predecessors, the HQ-16FE has a longer range and stronger anti-deception capabilities, Global Times learned from its manufacturer.
Along with the air defense missiles, a type of PLA Air Force vehicle-mounted tactical laser weapon also debuted at the air show. It’s a new type of combat force that targets low, slow, small targets like drones.
It engages targets at the speed of light, is highly accurate, can control its damage, has a low operational cost and can carry out large-scale missions. It can operate either independently, form a network of multiple vehicles, or become part of a larger air defense weapon system, the Global Times learned at the airshow.
The air defense systems exhibited by the PLA Air Force at the China 2022 Airshow showed that China’s air defense weapons are no longer dependent on imports and have begun to transition to domestically developed independent innovations that are becoming world-class, a Beijing-based military expert said. who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.
Under potential spearhead threats such as stealth aircraft, drones and missiles, China will continue to build shields in the form of air defense systems to protect its skies, an expert said.
This article was originally published by the Global Times