PLA Anti-Air Missile (SAM) systems
- Thread starter FORBIN
- Start date
New SAMs at Zhuhai.
Last image there shows the missile stored inside the right side (from truck own perspective) canisters. There are 6 missiles on the right side and what appears to be 48 (possibly 12 instead of 48 but based on arrow markers I'd say 48) missiles on the left side.
The missile shown firing in the display behind is for the right side (three arrow markers matching the vertical number of canisters) and appears to be similar in design to 57E6 from Pantsir system. A two stage, short range surface to air missile with longer range than PLA's current HQ-17/A (Tor modernised and domesticated Shorad system) and HQ-7/A (Crotale modernised and domesticated Shorad system).
Do we know if PLA has this Pantsir like Shorad in service? PLA already has two of the most capable Shorads in service with HQ-7 and HQ-17. This appears to be a wheeled, truck mounted, missile plus gun and radars integrated unit exactly like Pantsir which we've been hearing rumours about. Ability to mix and match missiles is interesting and what those 48 missiles are also looks interesting but it's doubtful they are useful for anything outside of point defense against ordinance and countering drone swarms. Would have too short a range for chasing helicopters and any MALE drones flying around it. PLA seems to prefer laser and EW for countering drones including MALE drones since Silent Hunter is able to counter MALEs and PLA has various Mengshi mounted laser systems for countering smaller drones at shorter ranges.
Advantage of 57E6 two stage Shorad missile over HQ-7 and HQ-17 is its increased range and energy management.
These are already a step below the SD-10 based two stage medium range SAM or the 555 missile (possibly of similar lineage to SD-10 based two stage SAM), which would serve similar purposes to your IRIS-T repurposed SAM, Iron Dome, S-350. Basically dedicated SAMs with smaller warheads unlike HQ-16 with a warhead so large, the system is possibly retained for its decent secondary surface to surface capabilities. So there is a definite need in PLA for a medium range (10km to 100km), anti air/ air defence SAM that is dedicated to aerial targets only. Wouldn't surprise me if the latest generation HQ-16 can actually reach up to theoretical slant range of 100km or over. 70km reported range for pretty much all existing medium range SAMs are 70km or so. HQ-22 for in between long and medium range.
Don't see a point for creating and acquiring a platform to carry manpad like missiles even if the truck can carry 96 missiles in total. Also don't see a point for yet another platform and missile system in the 10km to 20km range even if it offers greater range than HQ-7 and HQ-17. Below BMD type SAMs, there's HQ-9 series for long range, HQ-22 for medium to long, HQ-16 and 555 or others for medium, HQ-7 and HQ-17 for short range, land based 1130 or 730 guns, truck and armoured vehicle mounted laser systems, and manpads. I'd say the "tactical" platforms are saturated already and increasing numbers just add logistic and supply chain headaches. "Strategic" systems for long and medium ranges are almost as saturated and their effectiveness depends on the capabilities of the whole.
The only sort of "gap" that exists in all this that can be argued to justify creating and buying a platform for, is the 96 manpads on a truck (the two stage 57E6 equivalent just seems completely pointless with HQ-7A around) but it seems that the need for something like this is so limited for PLA considering its ground forces capabilities, technological edge, equipment levels, numbers, and supporting force structures are so comprehensive and overwhelming that situations where 96 manpads AESA integrated just doesn't seem to arise. PLA is not the Russian army in technology, industrial basis, equipment levels, organisation, and support.
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Max range 160km?