like i've shown in one of the previous posts, using dimensions of sylver modules - 3,3 meter long container with exhaust chamber at the bottom should allow for 3,1 meter long missiles. That is, coincidentally, length of VL mica and also future sea ceptor. While sea ceptor is credited with 25 km range, VL Mica is usually cited to have 20 km range. (MBDA's site actually says over 20 km for large planes, 20 km for helicopters, 15-20 for fighters, 15 km for subsonic missiles and 10 km for supersonic missiles.)
That of course assumes incoming missiles or aircraft manouver a lot. One could also fire several antimissile rounds covering one area, so at least some of them would have to manouver less when intercepting and thus reach bigger distances. Still, we are obviously not talking about ESSM class range/endurange performance which could probably intercept any sort of target out to the horizon. Even in the best case scenario, against a wildly manouvering target, i don't expect even Sea Ceptor (or future chinese missile) to do over 20 km.
And like I mentioned on CDF, i don't believe 052d will ever carry hq16 in its current form, without a new, active, seeker. Actually, even if such a variant is developed, and there is the small missile available for quad packing - there is little sense to put hq16 in the mix as well. only in case there is no small missile developed/ready, i could imagine some active seeking hq16 variant be a part of 052d's armament.
