avia.wikisort.org - Weapon

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 cloned from the Tor-M1.[1][2]

HQ-17
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2015 – present
Used by	China
Production history
Manufacturer	China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC)
Specifications
Mass	~ 165 kg
Length	~ 2.9 m
Diameter	~ 0.23 m
Warhead	~ 15 kg HE-FRAG
Engine	rocket motor
Propellant	solid fuel
Operational range	1.5 km to 15 km
Flight altitude	10 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.[3]

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.[1]

In early 2015, the HQ-17 was publicly revealed.[2] A new wheeled variant named FM-2000 was unveiled at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow exhibition.[4]

Design

Although reverse engineered from the Tor-M1, the HQ-17 features various changes. 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.[5][4]

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.[1] The reloading vehicle is based on the SX2306 8X8 military truck.[6]

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.[2]

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. Its 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.[4]

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

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.[7][8]

Tracked variant

The tracked launch vehicle is produced by China in Inner Mongolia.^{[citation needed]} 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.[1] 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.[9][7]

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.[10]

Deployment

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

In May 2021, around 2 batteries of HQ-17A entered service in China's Xinjiang Military Command at an altitude of more than 4500 m alongside 2 batteries of PHL-11 MLRS.[11]

Variants

HQ-17

Tracked variant

HQ-17A

Wheeled variant

FM-3000

A 30 km range surface-to-air missile system based on the HQ-17.

HQ-17AE

An export variant based on wheeled HQ-17A.[12][13]

Operators

•  China: People's Liberation Army Ground Force operates 180 systems as of 2020.[14]
• Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Arabian Army operates an unknown number of HQ-17AE wheeled-launched missile systems. [15]

References

See also

• List of surface-to-air missiles

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