Chinese ATGM discussion

(Continued from above...)

Here's the man-portable version of the new ATGM. You get a better look at the portable launcher in the last image (launcher located on the left).







P.S. The PLA appears to be upgrading its ATGM capabilities throughout its force structure. Both high-mobility brigades and heavy armor brigades (with tracked vehicles) now have dedicated ATGM launch vehicles. The only thing missing is a ATGM vehicle based on the Type-08 wheeled 8x8 for the medium armor brigades. I wouldn't be surprised that they are working on it as we speak. Perhaps the only reason we haven't seen it is because the PLA is looking to switch over to an evolved 8x8 platform based on the Type-08, so there might be a short delay.

by78 said:

It's pretty much official at this point. A new ATGM has entered service, although I don't know the official designation. It's man-portable and also launched from a dedicated Mengshi-III variant. Since Mengshi-IIIs form the backbone of the PLA's new High Mobility Brigades (HMB), I believe this new ATGM is meant to further augment the anti-armor capabilities of these HMBs.

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Yeah I think this new missile is probably what was seen in the picture back in #299



WRT the role of this missile -- it looks quite a bit smaller than the AFT/HJ-10 in terms of size, and more importantly the AFT/HJ-10 is also present on the Mengshi platform as well -- that is to say, there already is a long range, heavy NLOS ATGM capability for the HIMABs in the same way that they are present for the various heavy, medium and light CABdes.


This new missile when deployed on the dedicated Mengshi platform, IMO could be a better fit for the firepower company of a combined arms battalion, whether it's heavy, medium or light.

Meanwhile, the man portable version of the missile could fit in a weapons platoon within a company.

Bltizo said:

Yeah I think this new missile is probably what was seen in the picture back in #299

Chinese ATGM discussion

WRT the role of this missile -- it looks quite a bit smaller than the AFT/HJ-10 in terms of size, and more importantly the AFT/HJ-10 is also present on the Mengshi platform as well -- that is to say, there already is a long range, heavy NLOS ATGM capability for the HIMABs in the same way that they are present for the various heavy, medium and light CABdes.


This new missile when deployed on the dedicated Mengshi platform, IMO could be a better fit for the firepower company of a combined arms battalion, whether it's heavy, medium or light.

Meanwhile, the man portable version of the missile could fit in a weapons platoon within a company.

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Yes, this indeed the same missile as seen recently being launched from a Mengshi-III. I wonder whether this is also the same missile as seen here inside a WZ550.

by78 said:

Yes, this indeed the same missile as seen recently being launched from a Mengshi-III. I wonder whether this is also the same missile as seen here inside a WZ550.

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It's plausible, or it may have been a similar missile being developed.

I feel like the QN-502C and its different deployment methods seems quite a close match to this mystery ATGM (being truck mounted and man portable as well) -- but of course both are quite different missiles, as this mystery missile adopts the wing configuration more similar to Spike/HJ-10/HJ-12, whereas the QN-502C adopts a planform closer to Javelin.



Then there's also the Saber family of ATGM as well, which was shown with a similar truck mounted configuration and man portable configurations too.



This isn't to say the respective missiles are related to those similar planform weapons... but it seems to me they were all developed aiming towards potentially similar requirements.
I wouldn't be surprised if various missile types were trialled on different platforms too.

The fact that this new ATGM seems to be in advanced stages of PLA trials (at least) and being shown on state media suggests it may end up being adopted not too far into the future, and I wouldn't be too surprised if its capabilities end up being too different from QN-502C or Saber ER.

Video source of the new ATGM screen capture pics:

Hi guys, am I wrong or by judging the video source of the new ATGM screen capture pics it looks to me that the angle of attack when the missile is about to strike the target from the top is rather steep. I wouldn't say that it is perpendicular, but it should be close to 90 degrees.Is there anyone who can make an assumption about the angle?

Builder said:

Hi guys, am I wrong or by judging the video source of the new ATGM screen capture pics it looks to me that the angle of attack when the missile is about to strike the target from the top is rather steep. I wouldn't say that it is perpendicular, but it should be close to 90 degrees.Is there anyone who can make an assumption about the angle?

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It's a top attack profile, so it would be expected to be quite steep.

Whether it's exactly perpendicular, not sure

by78 said:

The PLA appears to be upgrading its ATGM capabilities throughout its force structure. Both high-mobility brigades and heavy armor brigades (with tracked vehicles) now have dedicated ATGM launch vehicles.

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Feel free to explain why the long obsolete HJ-73 still around...

MwRYum said:

Feel free to explain why the long obsolete HJ-73 still around...

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It has been updated numerous time and nice to have if you met tank or APC on the battle field. They were the hero of Yom Kipur war So better than nothing Plus you cannot update all the hundred brigades at once. Not all the brigade are front line brigade, some of them form 2nd echelon for mopping up operation.

MwRYum said:

Feel free to explain why the long obsolete HJ-73 still around...

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Don't be unproductive and snide.

Saying that a new and capable missile that's in advanced testing by the PLA and likely to be adopted in considerable numbers in the future -- is not the same as saying that significant numbers of older, obsolete and less capable systems do not still remain in service.

That's like asking why the PLAAF still has so many J-7s still in service when they're actively producing J-10Cs, J-16s and J-20s.


Why do you think that's the case?