PLA Anti-Air Gun systems

[Hitomi]

Except testing has already shown the the 625 is not an effective counter to drones due to range and number of systems and ammo needed to provide adequate protection.

The current best hard kill counters against FPVs are lasers and microwaves.

I can also see automatic shotguns with drum or belt mags being added as an additional addition to the tradition HMG on RWS as more of a last ditch defence. But that’s more for psychological support for moral rather than being truly effective.

For counter drones, I think it will be a similar situation to counter air, where offence is the best defence. You try to shoot down enemy tac air before they spam munitions at you, rather than just wanting to shoot down every bomb and missile coming at you from close range.

For counter drones, I think the preferred approach would be to have your own drone swarm pushing ahead and around your main advance and engaging enemy drones and pilots as they expose themselves to launch.

Terminal defence is basically the same as CIWS for warships. You need to have them, but you really really don’t want to have to actually use them.

Lasers and EM based weapons are definitely the next generation as I am firmly of the opinion that gun based AAs are past their prime long ago and only faced a resurgence as a stop gap against drones. Until the lasers can down MALE drones and break glide bomb wings gun based AA is just going to be that.

I am just stating the effectiveness of the Type 625 against a subset of drones (Lancet sized) in addition to its role of C-RAM. The PLA already stated their opinion on the drone matter with the FK-3000 and laser bus being displayed.

 

[by78]

A close-up of Type 625's gatling cannon.

 

[tamsen_ikard]

High-resolution images of Type 625.

Type 625 chasis seems different from both Mengshi and ZBL-08. PLAGF usually follows commonality on all its vehicles to conform to its 3 types of brigades (heavy, medium, light). This seems a bit different. Is it employed by PLAAF?

 

[bsdnf]

Type 625 chasis seems different from both Mengshi and ZBL-08. PLAGF usually follows commonality on all its vehicles to conform to its 3 types of brigades (heavy, medium, light). This seems a bit different. Is it employed by PLAAF?

base on MV3 8x6 heavy truck chasis

 

[Gloire_bb]

Lasers and EM based weapons are definitely the next generation as I am firmly of the opinion that gun based AAs are past their prime long ago and only faced a resurgence as a stop gap against drones. Until the lasers can down MALE drones and break glide bomb wings gun based AA is just going to be that.

It is nowhere near that straightforward.
Lasers, currently, perform well in suitable atmosphere, when you don't care too much about power/size, and have some time on target.
Even then, their range isn't very high.

EM adds huge size on top - it's effectively unsuitable anywhere where it can be engaged; safe rear area only. Which is of course an important niche, but either way, gun niche is still with us.

They're longer ranged, universal by default, and have very effective path forward with guided rounds (like 2s38).