PLA Anti-Air Missile (SAM) systems

Godswill

New Member
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"HQ-9C" is this thing:

View attachment 153860

Not much is known about this system or if it even is called "HQ-9C" but it's some sort of medium/short range air defense system, as for HQ-16FE stats:
View attachment 153861View attachment 153862
Second picture says HQ-16FE missile has a dual mode radar seeker capable of both semi-active and active homing and has a maximum kill boundary of 160km against fighter aircrafts and also says HQ-16FE is capable of intercepting tactical ballistic missiles and supersonic cruise missiles as well, first picture says the system is capable of tracking 12 targets while engaging 8 of them simultaneously. As the name suggest "HQ-16FE" should probably mean there is a certain HQ-16F system in PLA service. This system seems like an extremely potent medium range air defense considering it could do both anti-missile and anti-aircraft work with considerable range. PL-15 turned into a medium range air defense wouldn't be able to do anti-missile work without significant modification and with the 5.7 conflict, anti-missile work should become a priority for modern air defenses, plus with HQ-16F presumably already in PLA service such a PL-15 air defense system would be unnecessary IMO. It is better to just strap some PL-12s and PL-10s to a Mengshi and call it a day with a dirt-cheap short-range air defense system(Which IMO China isn't lacking in this department either with Type 625 etc.) but could potentially do well in export since it would probably be dirt cheap and helps PLAAF get rid of old PL-12 stock. As for datalink capability, iirc PLA has been working on a triservice datalink system that could be able to link everything together especially with their emphasis on digitized warfare.
That seems like a very capable system, about time HQ-16 gets some serious upgrade! This shit looks expensive though.
Any idea of the HQ-16F missile size?
 

RoastGooseHKer

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Has anyone written or taken an in-depth look at the performance of HQ-9 and HQ-16 during the Indo-Pak conflict last month?
 

PLAwatcher12

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Has anyone written or taken an in-depth look at the performance of HQ-9 and HQ-16 during the Indo-Pak conflict last month?
From what I know it did decent shooting down missiles, including the storm shadow but it did struggle but Pakistan has little of them and is not layered so it’s hard to say it is a true representation. India claimed to destroy some but has showed no proof including no statalite proof that isn’t blurry
 

Gloire_bb

Major
Registered Member
Current Chinese medium-range surface-to-air missile system (HQ-16) is kind of outdated, big missile and chunky platform with limited range.
Elephant in the room.
HQ-16 isn't just "Chinese medium-range surface-to-air missile system", it's PLAGF high tier system. Their (current) medium range system is HQ-11.
It is better to just strap some PL-12s and PL-10s to a Mengshi and call it a day with a dirt-cheap short-range air defense system(Which IMO China isn't lacking in this department either with Type 625 etc.)
Current short range SAM system for PLAGF is HQ-17(A).

625, pgz09 are a different thing, replacing them with PL-12/10 based system will be somewhat weird.

HQ-13 (combined gun/missle structure) is a thing in light bdes, which lack organic higher level SAM cover. Until now they were ¬naked to air threat out of manpad reach.
 
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RoastGooseHKer

Junior Member
Registered Member
From what I know it did decent shooting down missiles, including the storm shadow but it did struggle but Pakistan has little of them and is not layered so it’s hard to say it is a true representation. India claimed to destroy some but has showed no proof including no statalite proof that isn’t blurry
Sounds like what I read. Maybe they simply got overwhelmed and saturated since Pak has limited number of them. For Islamabad, it seems like increasing the number of SAM launchers (especially ones capable of downing cruise missiles and loitering munitions) is more daunting than purchasing additional J-10s or J-35s.
 

Black Wolf

Junior Member
Registered Member
From what I know it did decent shooting down missiles, including the storm shadow but it did struggle but Pakistan has little of them and is not layered so it’s hard to say it is a true representation. India claimed to destroy some but has showed no proof including no statalite proof that isn’t blurry
Sounds like what I read. Maybe they simply got overwhelmed and saturated since Pak has limited number of them. For Islamabad, it seems like increasing the number of SAM launchers (especially ones capable of downing cruise missiles and loitering munitions) is more daunting than purchasing additional J-10s or J-35s.

Although a few BrahMos managed to penetrate, the majority were rerouted, or blinded by cyber warfare measures, as highlighted by the spokesperson of the Pakistani Armed Forces during a briefing.

Furthermore, while the authenticity of recent reports is still uncertain, the acquisition of the HQ-19 system would complement existing platforms like the HQ-9B, HQ-9P, and LY-80, significantly bolstering air defense capabilities.
 

PLAwatcher12

Junior Member
Registered Member
Sounds like what I read. Maybe they simply got overwhelmed and saturated since Pak has limited number of them. For Islamabad, it seems like increasing the number of SAM launchers (especially ones capable of downing cruise missiles and loitering munitions) is more daunting than purchasing additional J-10s or J-35s.
Pakistan has limited numbers so they definitely got overwhelmed but they are also not layered and layered air defense systems perform better than non layered ones. I do agree that Pakistan should focus more on air defense systems
 
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