The ground-based surveillance and air defense system of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), which initially depended on foreign complexes of military and radar systems to meet its urgent needs, now, within the framework of the rapid modernization of the armed forces that began in the 90s of the last century, enjoys all the advantages of modern technologies of the widest range.
China has recently shown particular interest in developing a means to counter the growing threat of fifth-generation stealth fighters currently entering service with Japan and South Korea, which are allies of its strategic rival, the United States.
China's air defense system was already quite multi-tiered by the time the Soviet Union collapsed, but it mainly consisted of obsolete radar stations, surface-to-air missile systems and combat aircraft, purchased from the 1960s until the demise of the USSR. It became more and more obvious to the country's leadership that it was unlikely to cope with stealth aircraft and high-precision weapons used outside the reach of weapons that were then being developed by the United States.
Existing systems
The main system of the existing ground-based air defense network is the Hong Qi 2 (Red Banner 2 or HQ-2) medium-range anti-aircraft missile system, produced under license. It differs from its counterpart - the Soviet S-75 Dvina complex / (NATO classification - SA-2 Guideline) - it differs in some modifications of the "local spill", which make it possible to deal with high-speed threats, including a modified rocket body with an increased fuel reserve, enlarged control surfaces, an improved high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 200 kg, electronic protection and a semi-active radio command guidance system.
The missile length of the complex is 10, 7 meters, diameter of 0, 71 meters and a launch weight of 2300 kg. The declared maximum speed of a solid-propellant rocket is Mach 3.5, an altitude of 45 km and an inclined range of 25,000 meters. The HQ-2 complexes include various versions of the Soviet P-12 Yenisei reconnaissance and targeting station and the SJ-202 fire control radar, which is based on the Soviet SNR-75 missile guidance station. The HQ-2 complex, put into service in the mid-60s, is gradually losing ground under the onslaught of systems of the next generations, both literally and figuratively.
Air defense at lower altitudes is provided by the short and medium-range HQ-6A and HQ-7A complexes. The second generation HQ-6A rocket weighing 300 kg was developed by the Chinese in the early 80s. The rocket, 4 meters long and 0.28 meters in diameter, strongly resembles the Aspide rocket of the Italian company Selenia. The HQ-6A missile, equipped with a single-stage solid-propellant engine, can reach speeds of up to Mach 3; it is assumed that it is capable of dealing with low-flying targets at ranges up to 10 km and altitudes up to 8000 meters.
A typical HQ-6A battery includes an early warning station with a detection range of up to 50 km, up to three fire control radars and six launchers. Each self-propelled launcher based on the Hanyang 6x6 truck chassis is equipped with four missiles ready to launch.
The battery may also include the self-propelled gun system Ludun-2000 (LD-2000), which, in fact, is a ground version of the 30-mm seven-barreled naval artillery mount Ture-730, installed on the Taian TA5450 truck along with the built-in guidance radar Ture- 347 G, ammunition stores and a power plant. The mast-mounted low-altitude target detection radar can also be used as a supplement to the early warning station included with the HQ-6A battery.
For comparison, the HQ-7A complex is considered a reverse-engineered version of the French Thales Crotale EDIR (Ecartometrie Differentielle InfraRouge) system, which was deployed in the late 80s to combat high-speed threats. The rocket weighing 84.5 kg, 3 meters long and with a body diameter of 0.15 meters is equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 14 kg. The firing range of a rocket capable of reaching a speed of Mach 2, 2 is up to 12 km and the range of heights of destruction is from 30 to 6000 meters; guidance is carried out in radio command mode with radar or optical direction finding. Each 4x4 mobile launcher is equipped with an elevating four-barreled launch canister and a Ku-band monopulse radar with command line-of-sight guidance. A typical battery consists of a control vehicle and two or three launchers.
Russian fast and furious
Although the updated versions of the HQ-2, as well as the HQ-6A and HQ-7A systems remain in service with the PLA, they are gradually being replaced by the Russian mobile systems S-300P / PMU1 / PMU2 and S-400, as well as mobile fourth-generation Chinese-made air defense systems such as the HQ -9A, HQ-16A and HQ-22.
China is the largest foreign customer of the S-300 system manufactured by the Almaz-Antey Concern, having acquired several of its variants from about 1991 to 2008 as part of a broad transition to modern fourth-generation air defense systems. By 1993, the PLA received its first order for eight export-version S-300PMU complexes with 32 launchers of 4 missiles each. The army subsequently received another 16 S-300PMU-1 (SA-20A Gargoyle) complexes with 64 launchers in 1998, which were equipped with 48N6E missiles with an integrated guidance system through on-board equipment (missiles) and a maximum range of 150 km.
In 2004, Russia also supplied the S-300PMU2 system (NATO code SA-20B) worth about $ 980 million, which included a mobile command post of the 83M6E2 control system and eight 90Zh6E2 air defense systems with 32 launchers. This option includes 48N6E2 surface-to-air missiles, which are capable of striking aircraft at a maximum slant range of 200 km or short-range ballistic missiles at a range of up to 40 km.
The 83M6E2 control system consists of a 54K6E2 command post and a 64N6E2 detection radar with a two-way S-band headlamp with an actual detection range of 300 km. Command post 54K6E2 can also control the S-300PMU and S-300PMU-1 systems. Each 90Zh6E2 complex includes a 30N6E2 X-band illumination and guidance radar and a 96L6E surveillance radar with a HEADLIGHT, which can simultaneously track and fire six targets at distances of 200 km, as well as 5P85SE launchers.
The Russian state corporation Rosoboronexport confirmed in 2015 that it had signed a contract for the supply of an unspecified number of S-400 (SA-21 Growler) systems to China, although in March 2019 there were reports that at least 8 launchers - each with four 48N6EZ slant missiles with a range of up to 250 km - were delivered in mid-2018. The second batch is planned to be delivered at the end of 2019. At the same time, it is not known whether China bought 40N6E missiles with a range of 400 km, which, most likely, are equipped with an active radar homing system.
Satellite images taken in May 2019 show that the S-400 air defense systems are in service with the 5th Air Defense Division, stationed south of Beijing, where they replaced several S-300PMU1 systems.
Raising the Red Banner
An army spokesman said that the acquisition of the S-300 and S-400 is, in fact, a temporary measure aimed at increasing the country's missile defense capabilities and allowing the local industry, using foreign experience, to further develop local fourth-generation air defense systems.
It is possible that during the development by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) of the HQ-16 medium-range air defense missile system, adopted by the PLA in 2011, Russian technologies were borrowed, in particular, the technologies used in the export missiles of the 9M38E series included in the composition of the ship-borne missile systems "Shtil" of the Almaz-Antey corporation, which China bought for its destroyers of project 956-E / 956-EM and Type 052B ("Guangzhou" and "Wuhan").
The HQ-16A missile has a length of 2.9 meters, a diameter of 0.23 meters and a launch weight of 165 kg, including a 17-kg high-explosive fragmentation warhead. The CASC corporation claims that the missile, capable of developing a speed of Mach 4, can hit targets at ranges up to 40 km and altitudes up to 25,000 meters. The improved model, designated HQ-16B, shown in September 2016, features an increased slope range of 70 km thanks to modified steering surfaces and an improved propulsion system based on a single-chamber solid-fuel engine with two-stage thrust.
The HQ-16 division includes a command post, a detection radar and up to four fire batteries. Each battery consists of a radar for illumination and guidance and up to four mobile launchers. Each launcher is mounted on the Taian TA5350 6x6 chassis, in the rear of which there are two packages of three transport and launchers with missiles. The rocket is launched vertically using a powder pressure accumulator (cold start method).
An export version, designated LY-80, is offered by CASC through its export division Aerospace Long-March International Trade. This system was purchased by Pakistan and put into service in March 2017.
Another example of Russian-Chinese cooperation in missile development is the HQ-9 system, which was developed by the Second Academy of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC) with the active assistance of the Almaz-Antey Concern. According to the official specification, the HQ-9A missile has a length of 6, 51 m and a launch weight of 1300 kg with a warhead weighing 180 kg. It can reach speeds of up to Mach 4 and intercept threats at a maximum slant range of 125 km and altitudes up to 30 km.
The updated version of the HQ-9B is equipped with a modified illumination and guidance radar NT-233, in which an additional antenna device surrounds the main array, and also has a more compact horn feed compared to the original version. It also offers an increased slope range of up to 200 km and a top speed of Mach 6. According to unconfirmed reports, a new version of the HQ-9C with a range of 300 km is being developed.
A typical HQ-9 division includes up to six fire batteries, each consisting of a mobile command post, a fire control vehicle and eight launchers based on the 8x8 Taian TAS5380 platform, in the rear of which is a package of four transport and launch containers. It also includes the SJ-212 flat-panel radar with a phased array, which covers the 120 ° sector and is capable of simultaneously tracking 100 air targets at a distance of up to 300 km and at altitudes of 7000 meters, while it automatically detects and offers up to six priority targets for firing.
The PLA at the Airshow China 2016 airshow presented a locally developed HQ-22 medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. Developed by CASIC as a low-cost successor to the outdated HQ-2 system, the HQ-22 solid-propellant missile can intercept targets at ranges over 100 km and altitudes up to 27,000 meters. According to the company, the HQ-22 complex can provide launch control and guidance for obsolete HQ-2 missiles. According to unconfirmed reports, these capabilities were tested in the same year during live fires in Hebei province.
The HQ-22 complex includes from six to eight mobile launchers 8x8, each equipped with four inclined transport and launch containers. The launch of the rocket is inclined on its own engine from the launcher (hot start method), in contrast to one launching guide rocket of the HQ-2 complex. The tracking and guidance radar is based on the H-200 radar with a phased array, which is also used in the guidance of the HQ-12 missile.
An analysis of satellite images taken in 2016-2018 showed that at least 13 HQ-22 complexes in service with the country's Air Force occupy the former positions of the HQ-2 complex in the Central, Northern and Western Commands. An export version under the designation FK-3 is also offered by the CASIC corporation.
Industrial developments
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) has developed an improved version of its Sky Dragon 50 system and is promoting it for export as the backbone of an "affordable" medium-range air defense network or as an addition to existing networks. According to the company, Sky Dragon 50 consists of three to six mobile launchers, a control vehicle and an IBIS-150 or IBS-200 illumination and guidance radar.
Controlled by the control vehicle, one Sky Dragon 50 battery can track 144 targets and simultaneously fire at 12 targets with a DK-10A missile. The DK-10A missile is a ground-launched version of the PL-12 / SD-10 air-to-air missile and is equipped with an active radar seeker; the maximum slant range and altitude are 50 km and the target destruction altitude is from 300 to 20,000 meters.
CASIC also offers the export-oriented FK-1000 short-range anti-aircraft missile and gun system, which is designed to combat low-flying, high-speed threats, such as cruise missiles.
A typical FK-1000 battery includes one command post, six launchers, three transport-loading vehicles carrying 72 additional missiles, and one test vehicle with spare parts. This battery is usually integrated into a larger general air defense network, although each of the launchers can be deployed as a separate anti-aircraft system.
The main armament of the FK-1000 complex, based on the 8x8 truck, is 12 two-stage solid-propellant FK-1000 missiles (six on each side of the rotating platform installed at the rear) along with a pair of 23-mm automatic cannons with independent vertical guidance drives. The sensor kit includes a surveillance radar in the rear of the vehicle and a tracking radar in the front. According to CASIC, the FK-1000 complex is capable of simultaneously firing at two targets; the missile provides an oblique range of up to 22 km and a defeat height of 20 to 10,000 meters. The cannons have a slant range of 20-2800 meters and a hit height of 2300 meters.
The PLA is also investing heavily in the purchase of advanced early warning radar systems to combat the threats of stealth aircraft and long-range precision missiles from the United States and its partners.
As a temporary tool in the short-range air defense systems of the Chinese army, the AS901 low-altitude target detection radar, operating in the decimeter range, is used. Similar in design and functionality to the Israeli EL / M-2106 and Russian 1L122 radars, this radar is known to be used to target short-range TY-90 missiles and is in service with the PLA's anti-aircraft missile regiments. The radar, also known as the JZ / QF-612, is available in a portable and transportable configuration. It has a maximum range of 50 km, and in operational control mode, a maximum range of 30 km.
The maximum declared target altitude is 10,000 meters; China National Aero-Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC) claims the system has good noise immunity and can handle up to 100 targets simultaneously.
The three-coordinate radar AS915 with a phased array from Norinco provides the Lie Shou (LS-II; Hunter II) short-range air defense system with information on detected and tracked targets. The AS915 radar features two simultaneous scanning beams and can track a large area. The complex is available in a mobile configuration based on the Dongfeng EQ2050 Mengshi 4x4 light tactical vehicle.
Norinco's Yitian short-range air defense system is included in the headquarters section along with the command post and the IBIS-80 radar. The IBIS-80 station is an advanced three-dimensional S-band targeting radar for capturing low-flying targets, which provides data to battalion-level anti-aircraft weapons systems.
The IBIS-150 three-coordinate targeting radar is part of the Sky Dragon MR complex. Its feature is that it has advanced noise immunity, coherent one-dimensional two-beam phase scanning, monopulse angle measurement and digital pulse compression. In addition to China, the radar was purchased as part of the LY-80 (HQ-16), Sky Dragon and TL-50 (Tian Long) complexes by Morocco, Pakistan and Rwanda.
Norinco also offers an improved IBIS-200 S-band three-axis radar, which is offered as an option for inclusion in the Sky Dragon 50 complex. According to the official specifications, the radar has a range of 250 km in early detection mode, which is significantly longer than the range of the IBIS-150 130 km, and 150 km in target designation mode. The IBIS-200 radar is transported by Beifang-Benchi 6x6 trucks and takes only 15 minutes to get ready for operation. It can track up to 144 targets of twelve different types simultaneously.
The JY-11 mobile three-coordinate airspace surveillance radar is specially designed to intercept low-flying targets at ranges up to 260 km. The radar includes a beamforming unit and a digital beamforming unit, as well as a beam receiver. The manufacturer China Electronics Technology Group (CETC) claims that the radar has excellent protection against electronic warfare and can detect low-flying targets in the presence of natural and artificial passive interference. Designed to detect targets at low and medium altitudes, the radar is suitable for observing and targeting anti-aircraft artillery and air defense systems. In addition to China, the radar was purchased by the armed forces of Sri Lanka, Syria and Venezuela.
The AS390 (JL3D-90A) mobile 3-axis early detection radar is truly coherent, using electronic 1D phase-frequency scanning, monopulse target height detection, frequency agility and pulse compression. The HEADLIGHT antenna can be split in the middle into two parts for transportation. The system, into which the “friend or foe” identification subsystem is integrated, is used for air traffic control and air target detection.
The JYL-1 mobile three-coordinate early warning radar, which is in service with China, Syria and Venezuela, serves as the main sensor system for national-level air defense. It is transported on three vehicles, respectively, an antenna assembly, an operator module and power units.
The JY-27A, JY-26 and JYL-1A multi-radar systems are an essential part of the Chinese anti-stealth air defense network. According to the developer, the JY-26 Skywatch-U radar operating in the decimeter range is distinguished by "double detection of unobtrusive circuits due to operation in the UHF range and a large product of the average radiated". The bubble-shaped transceiver module on the antenna resembles the Lockheed Martin TPY-X radar; however, the latter works in the C-band and is a system for another purpose. The JYL-1 S-band two-coordinate radar with an active phased antenna array (AFAR) is similar to the AN / TPS-70 air surveillance radar developed by Northrop Grumman. Radar JY-27A, operating in the range of 30-300 MHz and using electronic scanning in azimuth and elevation to provide three-dimensional coverage, is designed for early detection of ballistic missiles and stealth targets.
In addition to these radars, the newest addition to China's ground-based air defense radar portfolio is the multi-radar system developed by the Nanjing Institute of Electronic Technology. This system includes radars YLC-8B, SLC-7, SLC-12 with AFAR and passive radar YLC-29. These radars are structurally and functionally similar to the radar complex developed by the Russian Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute of Radio Engineering (NNIIRT). It consists of a three-coordinate "Sky-SVU" radar of a meter range, a "Protivnik-GE" radar of a decimeter range with a digital antenna array and a three-coordinate radar "Gamma-C1" of a centimeter range.
Unlike NNIIRT, which uses vertically polarized dipole elements (symmetrical vibrators) in its radars, Chinese designs have horizontally polarized dipole elements, for example, the meter JY-27A radar has 400 dipole elements, the YLC-8B decimeter range radar has 1800 and a radar SLC-7 centimeter band - 2900 dipole elements. Data from three active radars are combined to create a single integrated air picture. Threats that pose active interference can be tracked by passive radar.
The YLC-8B (300 MHz-1000 MHz) three-coordinate early warning AFAR radar (300 MHz-1000 MHz) - known in the Chinese army under the designation 609 Intelligence radar - is structurally and functionally similar to the 59N6E "Protivnik-GE" radar, which is part of the 55ZH6UME or Sky UME ", which in turn is part of the S-400 air defense system. It can be used as a long-range targeting radar in the HQ-9 / FT-2000 air defense system.
The declared maximum range of the "Provodnik-GE" station is 400 km in non-scanning mode and 340 km for a target with an effective scattering surface of 1.5 m2 at altitudes of 12000-80000 km. For comparison, the YLC-8B radar is capable of detecting a conventional multi-tasking combat aircraft at distances of more than 550 km and an unobtrusive target at a range of about 350 km.
The YLC-8B radar, apparently, has a wider antenna aperture compared to the "Opponent". When performing missile defense missions, the antenna rotates in azimuth by 45 °, while the viewing angles in elevation are 0-25 ° in search mode and 0-70 ° in tracking mode. According to the developer, the system can detect incoming missile threats at ranges over 700 km.
The SLC-7 radar, operating in the centimeter range (1-2 GHz), can detect a target with an RCS of the order of 0.05 m2 at ranges exceeding 450 km with a declared detection probability of 80%. The maximum detection altitude is declared at 30,000 meters. The manufacturer claims that the radar is also capable of detecting and tracking tactical ballistic missiles with an RCS of 0.01 m2 at ranges of more than 300 km with a detection probability of 90%. According to an industry source, the export value of the SLC-7 multifunctional radar with AFAR is close to $ 30 million.
Multifunctional radar SLC-12, operating in the S-band (2-4 GHz), provides long-range observation, early detection, target designation, tracking, guidance and other functions.
The YLC-29 passive radar, introduced in 2017, is also developed by the Institute of Electronic Technology. It uses random emitters, such as civilian frequency modulated signals, to detect, locate, and track air targets, including stealth aircraft. The developer claims that the characteristics of this radar are better than those of the previous model YLC-20.
The HT-233 / HQ-9/10 radar with a HEADLIGHT resembles the illumination and guidance radar 30N6 / 5N63, which is part of the Russian S-300P air defense system. The NT-233 radar is part of the HQ-9 / FT / FD-2000 anti-aircraft missile system. Its newest version, the HQ-9B, first shown in 2018, includes a modified NT-233 radar, which features digital beam position control. The field of view of the locator is 360 ° in azimuth and from 0 ° to 65 ° in elevation. NT-233 provides simultaneous detection of more than 100 targets, capture and tracking of more than 50 targets, determination of their nationality, capture, tracking and missile guidance.
The original NT-233 TER radar of the HQ-9 system has a detection radius of 150 km, a tracking range of 100 km, and can direct an HQ-9 missile or an improved HQ-9A at an inclined range of up to 125 km. It is likely that the modified radar includes changes aimed at increasing the detection and tracking range and, accordingly, the radius of destruction of targets.
In addition to this system, the HQ-9 air defense missile system includes a Type 305A radar (also known as K / LLQ-305A), which looks similar to the French Thales GM400 AESA radar and is the equivalent of the Russian 64N6 low-altitude detector and the Chinese Type 120 (K / LLQ -120), which in turn is similar to the Russian radar 76N6.
Since the end of the Cold War, the PLA has made great strides in creating a modern integrated air defense system, adopting increasingly effective air defense systems and locally developed reconnaissance and detection systems, complemented by the latest Russian technologies.
As this system continues to expand and develop, it could become nearly impenetrable for some modern Western-designed strategic and tactical aircraft, apart from perhaps the American B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and fifth-generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35. Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
