HQ-9
The HQ-9 (Chinese: 红旗; pinyin: hóng qí) is China’s new generation medium- to long-range, semi-active radar homing air defence missile.[1]
Initially an indigenous design, the HQ-9 missile was said to have undergone a redesign to incorporate Russian rocket technology after the acquirement of S-300 5V55-series missiles from Russia. There are unconfirmed rumors that the HQ-9 uses guidance system developed from the U.S. Patriot missile technology.[2]
The naval HQ-9 appears to be identical to the land-based variant. Its naval type HHQ-9 is equipped in the PLAN Type 052C Lanzhou class destroyer in VLS launch tubes.[3]
The land-based HQ-9 system has an anti-radiation variant, known as the FT-2000 for export.
Missile
Similar to the Russian S-300V, the HQ-9 is a two-stage missile. The first stage has a diameter of 700 mm and the 2nd stage 560 mm, with a total mass of 2 tons and a length of 9m. The missile is armed with a 180 kg warhead and has a maximum speed of Mach 4.2.[1]
The system first used a missile in a box-like launcher canted at an angle, just like the MIM-104 Patriot. However the missile was very large because of China's limited experience with solid-fuel rockets. Due to Russian assistance and technology transfers, the missile and launcher are in their present form, a transporter erector launcher with missiles inside a cylindrical container.[2]
Radars
The HQ-9 employs an enlarged and improved version of the KS-1 (a medium-range PRC SAM) SJ-212[1][4]. This radar has greater similarities to the Patriot's MPQ-53 than the S-300's 30N6 (Flap-Lid) series[5], working in the NATO G-band (4-6 GHz) as a search and targeting radar. This could be due to an alleged transfer of Patriot technology to China.[6] The radar can search a 120 degree arc in azimuth and 0-90 degrees in elevation out to 300 km, with a peak power output on 1MW (average 60 kW).[citation needed] The radar is credited as being able to track 100 targets and guides up to 6 missiles to 6 targets.[citation needed]
The HQ-9A supplements this with the brigade level HT-233 radar. A UHF radar[2], it is credited with a detection range of 120 km[citation needed][7], scanning 360 degrees in azimuth and 0-65 degrees in elevation.[citation needed] It can track 100 targets and designate 50 for engagements.[citation needed]
Comparable SAMs
References
- ^ a b c 「黃河」 (2001). "巡天神箭 紅旗9號與紅旗家族動態". Defence International (114): 72–81.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b c "HQ-9 / FT-2000 Surface-to-Air Missile". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
{{cite web}}: Text "Ground Forces" ignored (help); Text "SinoDefence.com" ignored (help) - ^ Sinodefence cites the SJ-212 for the KS-1: "Chinese Defence Today - KS-1 Surface-to-Air Missile". Retrieved 2006-12-09.
- ^ Flap Lid radars operate in the I/J band, with a very narrow 0.5 degree beam. Original variants had no search ability programmed. The later variants incorporate a secondary search capability but the search zone is narrow and slow
- ^ China's Missile Imports and Assistance From Israel NTI: China - February 28 2003
- ^ Assumed target RCS unknown
External links
- HQ-9 / FT-2000 SAM Sinodefence
- Naval HQ-9 SAM Sinodefence
- HQ-9 Missilethreat.com
- The HQ-9 SAM System: A Site Analysis October 27, 2007