PLAN Anti-ship/surface missiles

TheWanderWit

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Registered Member
PLAN is still weak in air defense missiles from the VLS compared to US. They only have HQ-9. US has SM-2,3,6 and quad packed ESSM.
I feel it depends on how one wants to categorize "weak" from their perspective. I guess you can say they are "weaker" in terms of the variety of AD missiles compared to US DDGs/CGs, but again, you have to look at the operational contexts. Some of those aren't needed, at least not now. Using the examples of US SAMs you listed:

SM-2 = PLAN SM-2 equivalent is basically HHQ-16, which is on their FFGs (especially newer FFGs, which should be using the 160km HQ-16F); they don't need this on DDGs when HHQ-9B exists.
SM-6 = HHQ-9B is essentially equivalent to SM-6 in terms of role and functions, but likely worse in BMD
SM-3 = BMD again is not a priority for the PLAN as they face no mass ballistic missile threat. Of their BM threats (which are mostly ICBMs), that is taken care of by land-based systems. Any future BMD missile that embarks on PLAN DDGs will likely have been developed to deal with maneuvering hypersonic threats (HGVs, HCMs?) that some adversary country has fielded, but can of course shoot down other regular ballistic missiles
quadpacked ESSM = this has been debated before, and I believe will come eventually, but must not be seen as a major priority, as maybe they deem they don't currently face any major threat of swarm attacks?, or are pushing for something more capable than just some ESSM equivalent

There is this though that was seen, which looks like a SAM rather than some anti-ship/land attack missile. My guess is it kind of looks like a naval version of HQ-9C? Which would probably be a better equivalent match for SM-6 than HHQ-9B, specifically in BMD as HQ-9C is tailored more for BMD, but likely with even more range than HHQ-9B as it clearly has a booster section. Doesn't look like it would replace it, but rather exist alongside it, and be used more for BMD (maybe optimized against hypersonic threats as well (?)) and as a longer-range, anti-air SAM to hit further distant targets cued by AEW&C aircraft. But I could be wrong, we'll wait and see what it is as we get closer.
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doggydogdo

Junior Member
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There is this though that was seen, which looks like a SAM rather than some anti-ship/land attack missile. My guess is it kind of looks like a naval version of HQ-9C? Which would probably be a better equivalent match for SM-6 than HHQ-9B, specifically in BMD as HQ-9C is tailored more for BMD, but likely with even more range than HHQ-9B as it clearly has a booster section. Doesn't look like it would replace it, but rather exist alongside it, and be used more for BMD (maybe optimized against hypersonic threats as well (?)) and as a longer-range, anti-air SAM to hit further distant targets cued by AEW&C aircraft. But I could be wrong, we'll wait and see what it is as we get closer.
View attachment 158554
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these are thin enough to be quad packed.
 

Blitzo

General
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Quadpack SM-6?? Although interestingly this does not have as much lifting surfaces as SM-6 nor SM-3 but is about the same size as the SM-6. IMO, this could be quadpacked as long as the fins are foldable.

What about that missile particularly resembles SM-6??

It looks like a two stage missile sure, but there are many two stage SAMs in the world.

I would also caution from speaking of SM-6 as if it is necessarily a default or optimized planform and control surface design for SAMs. If anything SM-6 traces its design back to SM-2, SM-1 and even Terrier.
 

Tomboy

Senior Member
Registered Member
Where is the actual evidence for this? The only evidence I've seen is HQ-9C (slender missile displayed at Zhuhai) is just an HQ-9 variant with reduced range but higher magazine depth for counter saturation.
Wait wait where did the reduced range argument come from? Slender missiles could easily be as far reaching if not further reaching due to a smaller payload and better aerodynamics.
 

doggydogdo

Junior Member
Registered Member
Quadpack SM-6?? Although interestingly this does not have as much lifting surfaces as SM-6 nor SM-3 but is about the same size as the SM-6. IMO, this could be quadpacked as long as the fins are foldable.
It's not needed, lifting surface aren't all good, they increase drag and slows down the missile which makes them worse at intercepting high speed targets, Thats why S-400, HQ-9, HQ-22 doesn't have them.

The fins don't look that big I think it could fit without folding.
Wait wait where did the reduced range argument come from? Slender missiles could easily be as far reaching if not further reaching due to a smaller payload and better aerodynamics.
Slender missiles carry less propellent.
 
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