HQ-16

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HQ-16
HQ-16A Surface-to-air missiles 20170919.jpg
HQ-16A firing vehicle
TypeSurface-to-air missile
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2011 – present
Used byPrimary user: China
See Operators section for others
Production history
ManufacturerShanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST)
Specifications
Mass650 kg
Length5.2 m
Diameter0.34 m
Warhead70 kg warhead
Detonation
mechanism
impact / proximity
Enginerocket motor
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
40 km (HQ-16/HQ-16A)
70 km (HQ-16B)
Flight altitude15 m to 18 km
Maximum speed Mach 3
Guidance
system
Semi-active radar homing
Launch
platform
Taian TA5350 TEL, ships

The HQ-16 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-16; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-16; pinyin: Hóng Qí-16; lit. 'Red Banner-16') is a medium range semi-active radar homing surface-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.

Development[]

Development of the HQ-16 began in 2005.[1]

Some source claims the development was reportedly assisted by Russian company Almaz-Antey,[1] and the system is reportedly based on the combination of Buk-M1 and Buk-2M surface-to-air missile systems.[2]

Military Watch Magazine believes the system is not a copy of either Buk-M1 and Buk-2M. HQ-16 features vertical launch system, giving it 360 degree coverage and capability to fire in complicated geographical environment, which Buk system lacks. The missile system is mounted on a Chinese-designed 6x6 high mobility chassis instead of tracked platforms, providing ease of maintenance and better road mobility.[3]

In 2011, the development was completed and the HQ-16 was officially inducted into service.[4]

In 2016, an upgraded version named HQ-16B was unveiled. Due to an improved rocket motor and revised wings, the range was increased to 70 km. The upgraded version also appeared to have a longer body.[5]

Design[]

HQ-16A missiles in the vertical launching position

A typical formation consists of one command vehicle, one search radar vehicle, 3 radar guidance vehicles and 12 launch vehicles. Each launch vehicle carries up to 6 missiles. According to ArmyRecognition, technical support equipment for the system includes missile transportation and loading vehicle, power supply vehicle, maintenance vehicle, and missile-test equipment. The command vehicle is responsible to send target information and combat orders.[2]

Missile[]

The HQ-16 missile weighs 650 kg, has a length of 5.2 m and a diameter of 0.34 m. It can intercept flying aerial targets at altitudes of 15 km to 18 km. Maximum interception range for aircraft is 40 km, between 3.5 km and 12 km for cruise missiles flying at 300 m/s. The manufacturer claims the single shot kill probability is 85% against aircraft and 60% against cruise missiles. The missile has a speed of 1200 m/s.[2]

The missile guidance system comprises inertial guidance and semi-active radar homing at the terminal phase.[2]

It was reported that the naval variant of the missile was designed to intercept sea-skimming missiles that can fly less than ten meters above the surface.[4]

Radar[]

A typical land based battery consists of one search radar vehicle and 3 guidance radar vehicles. A single guidance radar vehicle can control two to four launcher vehicles, each of which has six missiles ready to launch.

The search radar vehicle is equipped with a mast mounting an IBIS 150 S-band 3D PESA radar.[6][7] When a target is detected, the search radar automatically performs IFF (Identification Friend-or-Foe), threat judgment, flight path processing and provides target engagement information to the guidance radar. The search radar has a range of 140 km and can detect targets flying up to an altitude of 20 km.[8]

It can detect up to 144 targets and track 48 simultaneously.[9]

The radar guidance vehicle is equipped with an L band PESA that controls the missile launching and target illumination after the missile is fired. The radar has a range of 85 km and can detect up to 6 targets, track 4 simultaneously and provide fire control for 8 missiles.[2]

Launch vehicle[]

The launch vehicle is a Taian TA5350 6×6 high-mobility truck developed by . It is powered by a 250hp Deutz AG BF6M1015 turbocharged diesel engine produced in China under license. The vehicle has a road range of 1,000 kma and maximum road speed of 85 km/h. It can climb a gradient of up to 60% and side slope of up to 30% as well as cross vertical obstacles up to 0.5 m tall, trenches up to 0.6 m deep and ford through water up to 1 m deep without preparation.[9]

Prior to firing, the wheels are lifted off the ground by 4 hydraulic jacks and the 6 missile canisters are tilted back to a vertical position. The missiles use a cold launch system.[2]

Variants[]

HQ-16
Hot-launched ship-based variant. Credited with an interception range of 40 km.
HQ-16E/LY-80N
Export version of HQ-16. [10]
HQ-16A
Cold-launched land-based variant. Credited with a range of 40 km. [11]
HQ-16AE/LY-80
Export version of HQ-16A.
HQ-16B
Cold-launched land-based variant. Unveiled in 2016, the HQ-16B has been reported having a range of 70 km due to an improved rocket motor and revised wings. [12]
HQ-16BE/LY-80
Export version of HQ-16B. [13]
HQ-26
Chinese equivalent of SM-3 for naval deployment, equipped with a dual pulse solid rocket motor for the final stage like SM-3.[14] Its certification is expected in 2015 at the earliest.[15]
HQ-16C
Improved HQ-16B.[3]

Deployment[]

VLS launchers carrying the HQ-16 on a Type 054A frigate

The HQ-16A has been adopted by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force as one its main surface-to-air missiles.[16] Additionally, its naval version HQ-16 is deployed on PLA Navy ships such as the Type 054A frigates.

During IDEAS 2014, Pakistan announced that it had ordered three HQ-16AE/LY-80 systems and eight IBIS-150 radars for US$225.77 million and $40 million, respectively. In 2014–2015, Pakistan followed up with a $373.23 million order for six additional HQ-16AE systems.

On 12 March 2017, Pakistan announced that it had fully inducted the LY-80 into service.[17] During the 2-week long Al-Bayza military exercise in 2019, Pakistan test-fired the LY-80 missile.[18] Pakistan Army has deployed the HQ-16 battery in Azad Kashmir.[19]

Operators[]

Current operators[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "HQ-16". Military Today.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "HHQ-16A LY-80 SAM". armyrecognition.
  3. ^ a b "Introducing the HQ-16: How China Developed the World's Leading Medium Range Air Defence System". militarywatchmagazine. 11 May 2021.
  4. ^ a b "The new ground-to-air missile system HQ-16 has entered service in the Chinese Army". armyrecognition. 30 September 2011.
  5. ^ Cazalet, Mark (1 March 2021). "Air-defence brigade under PLAGF's 78th Group Army receives HQ-16 SAM systems". Janes.
  6. ^ Publications, L. M. (2018-02-01). "SKY Dragon 50 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile System". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  7. ^ Publications, L. M. (2018-03-15). "IBIS200 Fire Control Radar". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  8. ^ Publications, L. M. (2018-01-22). "The HQ-16 (LY-80) Surface-to-Air Missile System". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 2021-07-19.
  9. ^ a b "HQ-16 – Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance".
  10. ^ "LY-80N （HQ-16E） Ship-to-air Missile Weapon System/LY-80N （HQ-16E） 舰空导弹武器系统". sast.net. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  11. ^ Hawker, Luke (24 April 2020). "Pakistan move surface to air missile to border with India - shock satellite pictures". express.co.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  12. ^ Fisher, Richard D. Jr.; Gibson, Neil (7 September 2016). "China develops longer-range HQ-16 SAM variant". janes.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  13. ^ "LY-80 （HQ-16BE） Medium Range Surface-to-air Missile Weapon System/LY-80（HQ-16BE）中程防空导弹武器系统". sast.net. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  14. ^ "HQ-26". Retrieved 28 March 2013.
  15. ^ "HQ-26 Anti-Ballistic Missile Interceptor".
  16. ^ a b The Military Balance 2021. The International Institute for Strategic Studies. 2021. pp. 250–251.
  17. ^ "Pakistan formally inducts LY-80 (HQ-16) air defence system". 13 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Military test fires newly-inducted air defence weapon system". 11 January 2019.
  19. ^ a b GDC (2021-07-18). "Pakistan Army Deploys Chinese HQ-16A SAM System in Kashmir". Global Defense Corp. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  • 19960619, National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC): "Lieh Ying: The Chinese-built Surface to Air Missile Weapon System", An Hua, NAIC-ID(RS)T-0253-96
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