HQ-22

The HQ-22 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-22; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-22; pinyin: Hóng Qí-22; lit. 'Red Banner-22') is a medium/long range semi-active radar homing / radio-command guidance surface-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.^{[citation needed]}

Development[]

The missile was developed as the second generation of the HQ-12 missile.^[1]

In 2014, a downgraded form of the missile known as the FK-3 was revealed, targetting export customers.

In Zhuhai Airshow 2016, the HQ-22 was first publicly revealed as an improved version of the FK-3.

In 2017, the HQ-22 entered service in the People's Liberation Army and has rapidly become one of the main missiles used for air defence.^[2]

Design[]

A typical battery of the HQ-22 system includes 1 radar vehicle and 3 launcher vehicles equipped with 4 missiles each. Each battery can supposedly engage 6 air targets simultaneously.^[3]

The missile system has been widely compared to the American Patriot and the Russia S-300 surface to air missile systems, and although it has a shorter range than more advanced S-300 variants such the S-300PMU-2 it is speculated to benefit from superior electronic warfare countermeasures (ECM) and superior capabilities against stealth targets at shorter ranges.^[4]

The system is speculated to be much cheaper than the HQ-9 also in service and will be one of the mainstays of China's air defense system, replacing the HQ-2 missiles of the Cold-War era.^[5] It is rumoured that the missile has had a high rate of acquisition, already being deployed in large numbers despite its relatively young age.^[6]

Missile[]

The HQ-22 missiles have a range of up to 170 km and can hit targets at altitudes from 50 m to 27 km. The missiles of the HQ-22 are guided by semi-active radar guidance^[7] and can engage ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, helicopters and UAVs.

One main difference of the HQ-22 from its predecessor HQ-12 is that the HQ-22 has a new "wingless" design.^[8]

Radar[]

The system is capable of launching 12 missiles to engage up to six targets simultaneously.^[9] and engage up to 36 targets with 72 rounds of missiles when multiple fire units, under the control of a command and coordination vehicle is used.

The missile can use either semi-active radar homing composite guidance or radio-command guidance through the whole course. Initially, the missile will use semi-active radar homing guidance and in the case that it encounters strong electronic interference, will automatically change to radio-command guidance.

Launch vehicle[]

The launcher vehicles are based on a 8x8 configuration chassis manufactured by the Hanyang Special Purpose Vehicle Institute. The HQ-22 launches its missiles at an angle, unlike the HQ-9 and HQ-16 which launch their missiles vertically.^[10]

Variants[]

HQ-22

Variant in service with the People's Liberation Army

FK-3

Original export variant. Range of 100km.^[11]

Deployment[]

In 2017, the HQ-22 entered service in the People's Liberation Army and has rapidly become one of the main missiles used for air defence.^[12]

In August 2020, it was announced that Serbia had purchased the FK-3, surprising a majority of Russian media that had expected Serbia to purchase the S-300 instead.^[13] It was the first time that any Chinese medium and long range SAM had been exported to a European country.^[14]

Operators[]

Current operators[]

•  China
•  Serbia FK-3 export variant^[15]

References[]

See also[]

• List of surface-to-air missiles