HQ-17

The HQ-17 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-17; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-17; pinyin: Hóng Qí-17; lit. 'Red Banner-17') is an all-weather low to medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system developed by China for the People's Liberation Army.

HQ-17
Tor-M1 SAM from which the HQ-17 was derived
TypeSurface-to-air missile
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2015 – present
Used byChina
Production history
ManufacturerChina Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC)
Specifications
Mass~ 165 kg
Length~ 2.9 m
Diameter~ 0.23 m
Warhead~ 15 kg HE-FRAG

Enginerocket motor
Propellantsolid fuel
Operational
range
1.5 km to 15 km
Flight altitude10 m to 10 km
Maximum speed Mach 3
Guidance
system
Semi-active radar homing
Launch
platform
TEL

Development

In 1996, China ordered 14 Tor-M1 missile systems from Russia which were delivered under contract in 1997.

In 1999, another contract for 13 Tor-M1 systems was signed between Russia and China. Delivery of the systems took place in 2000.[1]

Around 2000, China sought to license-produce the Tor-M1 missile system locally. However Russia reportedly refused. As a result, China decided to reverse-engineer the missile system.[2]

In early 2015, the HQ-17 was publicly revealed. It was reported that when a designer from the Russian Kupol factory saw the photos of HQ-17, he said that it confirmed Russia's long-term suspicion that China had cloned the Tor-M1.[3]

In the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow exhibition, a new wheeled variant named FM-2000 was unveiled.[4][5]

Design

Although reverse engineered from the Tor-M1, the HQ-17 is not a direct copy and instead features many improvements. Unlike the Tor system, the HQ-17 incorporates an indigenous all terrain tracked launch vehicle, a new identification friend or foe (IFF) antenna on top of the search radar, an electronically scanned array radar for better performance against jamming and the ability to datalink with other Chinese systems.[6][7][5]

The HQ-17 operates in batteries. A typical battery consists of 4 launch vehicles, reloading vehicles and other support vehicles. The battery is also supported by a mobile command post, based on a tracked chassis. Although a battery of the HQ-17 usually operates independently, it can also use targeting data from other surveillance radars.[2]

The HQ-17 is designed to keep up with mechanized troops like tank battalions to provide air cover on the move, as well as protect military sites.[3]

Missile

The HQ-17 is physically similar to the Tor-M1, with a weight of around 165 kg, length of around 2.9 m and diameter of around 0.23 m. It's slant range for intercepting flying aerial targets is 1.5 km to 15 km, slightly longer than the Tor-M1, and operates at an altitude of 10 m to 10 km.[8][5]

The missile guidance system comprises semi-active radar homing guided by the radar on the launch vehicle.

It was reported that the missile was designed to protect frontline units from helicopter and drone attacks, and that its vertically launched missiles also allows it to simultaneously engage multiple cruise missiles like the American Tomahawk or Taiwanese HF-IIE aimed at Chinese command and control infrastructure.[3]

Launch vehicle

The launch vehicle of the HQ-17 integrates launchers with missiles and radar on a single chassis and thus is able to operate independently.

Each launch vehicle carries one PESA search radar and one AESA guidance radar. Notably, the location of the radars are opposite for the tracked variant and wheeled variant. For the tracked variant, the search radar is located at the front and guidance radar at the rear. For the wheeled variant, the search radar is located at the rear and guidance radar at the front.

Each launch vehicle carries 2 x 4 missile canisters for a total of 8 missiles, which can be reloaded 4 missiles at a time by a Shaanxi SX2306 reloading truck equipped with a crane.[9][10][11]

Tracked variant

The tracked launch vehicle is produced by China in Inner Mongolia.[7]The vehicle weighs around 32 tons, and is about 8 m long, 3.2 m tall and 4 m wide. It is reportedly powered by a roughly 750-800 hp diesel engine and has a maximum speed of 65 km/h and range of 600 km.[2] It is manned by a crew of 3.

Wheeled variant

The wheeled launch vehicle is produced by Dongfeng Motor Corporation and is a 6x6 chassis similar to a Belarusian MZKT-6922. The vehicle weighs around 30 tons, and is about 9.7 m long, 3.1 m tall and 3.7 m wide. Features include an all-wheel drive system, central tire pressure system and a lightly armored which provides some degree of protection against small arms fire and shell splinters. It is reportedly powered by a roughly 400 HP diesel engine and has a maximum speed of 80 km/h and range of 800 km.[12][10]

Supposedly, the wheeled launch vehicle was produced because of a flaw of the tracked variant, which was having a long lag time between stopping and shooting. The wheeled vehicle, in the form of the FM-2000 supposedly features upgraded electronic countermeasures (ECM) in the form of counter-jamming capability against multiple targets.[13]

Variants

HQ-17
Tracked variant
HQ-17A
Wheeled variant
FM-2000
Export designation for wheeled variant
FM-3000
A 30 km range surface-to-air missile system based on the HQ-17.

Deployment

The HQ-17 tracked variants and HQ-17A wheeled variants are both currently in service in the People's Liberation Army.

Operators

Current operators

References

  1. "RUSSIAN TOR MISSILE SYSTEM". Russia File Defence Brief. 2008-12-08. Archived from the original on 2015-04-10. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
  2. "HQ-17 Short-Range Air Defense Missile System | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
  3. "China officially unveils cloned edition of Russia's Tor M1, the HQ-17 surface-to-air missile system | weapons defence industry military technology UK | analysis focus army defence military industry army". www.armyrecognition.com.
  4. "China developed new FM-2000 short-range air defense missile system". defence-blog.com. November 5, 2018.
  5. "CPMIEC FM-2000 Short Range Air Defense System at Air Show China 2018 | AirShow China 2018 Zhuhai News Show Daily Coverage | Defence security military exhibition 2018 daily news category". www.armyrecognition.com.
  6. "HQ-17: A Classic Russian Missile With A New Chinese Twist". popsci.com. Archived from the original on 28 August 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  7. "China releases footage of HQ-17's production line". defence-blog.com. August 20, 2017.
  8. https://twitter.com/Ninja998998/status/1105683969364750337/photo/1
  9. "China conducts live fire exercises with copy of the Russian Tor-M1 missile system". defence-blog.com. October 2, 2016.
  10. "HQ-17A Short-Range Air Defense Missile System | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com.
  11. "r/TankPorn - PLAGF HQ-17A. [900x506]". reddit.
  12. https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_july_2020_global_security_army_industry/chinese_hq-17a_shorad_air_defense_system_deployed_by_pla_78th_army_group.html
  13. Episkopos, Mark (December 29, 2018). "China's FM-2000 Short-Range Air Defense System: A Real Threat?". The National Interest.


See also

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