PLA Anti-Air Missile (SAM) systems

Heliox

Junior Member
Registered Member
Either replace x.com with twitter.com or provide a description

Twitter links don't load correctly depending on the browser and settings. A one line "headline", by the poster, to a posted link will help greatly - just like how there's a softly policed requirement for copy-pasting links to articles.

eg. This is fantastic and very legible when browsing ...
Screenshot 2026-04-29 075530.png

Compared to this ...
Screenshot 2026-04-29 075619.png
 

Blitzo

General
Staff member
Super Moderator
Registered Member

"PLA military updates" is a terrible account and does not give credit to original posters who find things or create things (art, CGI etc) including from some SDF users.
I advise to avoid posting links from that account.

In this case, the person who first seemed to have located that HQ-9B and HQ-9C photo is benreuter_IMINT



Either replace x.com with twitter.com or provide a description

Twitter links don't load correctly depending on the browser and settings. A one line "headline", by the poster, to a posted link will help greatly - just like how there's a softly policed requirement for copy-pasting links to articles.

eg. This is fantastic and very legible when browsing ...
View attachment 174103

Compared to this ...
View attachment 174104


To insert a preview/embed, use the "media" button in the dashboard and put the link to a tweet in:


1777441827788.png


However I still recommend people to post a description for any twitter link or image regardless.
 

TheWanderWit

Junior Member
Registered Member
Hq9c launch. Looks like the ground version doesn't have the booster like hhq9c wonder why is that? and if that negatively affects mobility and range.
View attachment 174306
View attachment 174308View attachment 174310
It’s really just another example of looking completely different but still having the same functions and are in the same lineage. You can also see stuff like this with the YJ-18. Land-based HQ-9C missile looks basically like just a slimmed down HQ-9B missile with no thrusters whilst HHQ-9C is the opposite in looks, has a booster, and has thrusters. Both still perform terminal ABM though.

YJ-18 is the supersonic AShM as is known, but YJ-18C appears to be a subsonic, VLO LACM/AShM. Even though both are completely different, they’re from the same lineage. One can probably give more examples.
 

Gloire_bb

Colonel
Registered Member
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Hq20 anti stealth and this lines up with what this guy says and the trio says
Just anti-stealth is a bit of a narrow field, though China is most certainly acting rich here (HQ-12(A), HQ-9C, HQ-19, HQ-20). That's likely more of a more self-sufficient medium range air defense system.

Can HQ-20 be replacing HQ-12(a) series in production? (assuming A is refresh to already produced units)
Hq9c launch. Looks like the ground version doesn't have the booster like hhq9c wonder why is that? and if that negatively affects mobility and range.
...but will help a great deal inner edge of engagement envelope and how fast missile can develop proper G forces.

It's a bit premature to make conclusions, both versions can be available both ways.
I'll bring up again the S-350(sort of HQ-20/HQ-9C analog) again - which has both shorter missiles(primarily meant to be used on navy corvettes and as s-400 anti-saturation missiles, but absolutely usable on S-350 launchers) and longer missiles (used primarily on navy frigates and meant to be main missile for s-350 batteries).
 
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