Every summer the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducts a major air defense exercise at its western theater command’s air force experimental training base. The anti-aircraft brigade of the 79th group army was the main participant in this year’s drill, on August 22.
The exercise evaluated the unit’s radar system, command and control network, intercept capabilities, electronic and cyber warfare abilities, mobility and logistics. The batteries engaged a variety of aircraft, including the J-10, J-11, Mil Mi-171, Harbin Z-9 and an assortment of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles).
Reporting, Chinese state media gave particular attention to the Hongqi-16 (HQ-16), one of the PLA’s most prized surface-to-air missiles.
Earlier this month, video and photographic evidence surfaced online that shows China moving trainloads of HQ-16 and HQ-17 missiles to Tibet as the standoff with India at Doklam continues.
The HQ-16 is a third-generation medium-range air defense missile system. Inspired by the Russian Buk, the HQ-16 has a 40 km maximum range of fire. Cold-launched vertically, it takes 13 minutes for a moving HQ-16 to load and fire missiles armed with 70kg warheads.
The transporting of HQ missiles to Tibet shows the PLA is reinforcing its layered air defense arrangement in anticipation of Indian air power
The HQ-16 can lock-on eight targets and engage four simultaneously. Its missile has a claimed maximum flight speed of Mach 2.8, with a single-hit probability rate of between 70% and 98%. In 2016, an upgraded version known as the HQ-16B was unveiled with a greater range of fire at 70 km.
A battery of HQ-16 consists of four launch vehicles, a target searching radar vehicle, a tracking and guidance radar vehicle, a command and control vehicle, missile transport and reloading vehicles and power supply trucks. The HQ-16 is generally used to defend stationary assets.
The HQ-17, however, is highly mobile. Sitting on an all-terrain tracked chassis, the HQ-17 usually accompanies fast-moving armored units. An improved version of the Russian Tor-M1, the HQ-17 has a 12 km range of fire.
Like the HQ-16, the HQ-17 uses vertical cold launchers against enemy jets, helicopters, smart bombs, cruise missiles and UAVs. But unlike the former, one HQ-17 vehicle combines all functions of an HQ-16 battery, empowering it with greater mobility. It takes ten seconds for a moving HQ-17 to engage an enemy. Carrying eight 9M331 missiles with a maximum flight speed of Mach 2.3, an HQ-17 can engage two targets simultaneously.
The HQ-17’s claimed hit probability against cruise missiles is between 56% and 99%; against fighter jets it’s between 45% and 93%; and against helicopters 82% and 98%.
The transporting of HQ missiles to Tibet shows the PLA is reinforcing its layered air defense arrangement in anticipation of Indian air power. The systems’ suitability for operating on the high plateau was confirmed at an exercise, in May, in Tibet’s Tanggula Mountains.
When reflecting on the 1962 war with China, Indian generals often blame their country’s defeat on its misuse of air power. Many believe the war’s outcome would have been quite different had India’s air force participated in an offensive role.
A recent Vayu Aerospace study concluded that the PLA air force would be at a disadvantage in a future war due to Tibet’s extreme climate, which would will limit the payload and combat radius of Chinese aircraft.
Last year, India deployed supersonic BrahMos missiles to Arunachal Pradesh near Tibet. In June, the Indian army announced its plans to send a squadron of HAL Dhruv helicopters to the Chinese border. More recently, the Indian defense ministry approved a deal to purchase six US-made AH-64 Apache attack helicopters for the army aviation corps and announced that it is looking to procure 234 naval helicopters, at a cost of US$5 billion. On August 24, the Indian air force added six C-130J Super Hercules strategic aircraft to its Arjan Singh base in Panagarh, 470 km from Doklam.
The Chinese high command understands India’s assumption of achieving air supremacy in the next war. However the PLA is quietly putting together a neat little surprise for India’s flyboys.
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Writing all these nonsense with a cup of tea/cofee or a bottle of beer is okay, untill it doesn’t effect.But in the era of nuclear capable world, no body is our enemy, the war itself is our enemy and those people who support these, are our enemies too, doesn’t matter they belongs to which country.Because, provocation, brain wash, religious trust,ambition is enough to ignite these catastrophic event, rest is just chain reaction untill the end of world.
I think japanese hv shown it in Nanjing
We pilipinos will support India…
Kai Chan …india will hit chinies life line in indian ocean…..war will start on himaliya and will reach in indian ocean where chinies life line goes…chinies military knows very well about its…If china and india goes for war than this both countries will look foolish bcoz they wil destroy Asia’s future in this war and in which West is interested…china and india should go for war and they will be the ultimate winner…china and india both countries r intelligent they will not do foolish thing like war.. For both countries their economy r important than war….
War is not won by speculation or wishful thinking. China has studied the art of war and is ready to defend her sovereignty and territorial integrity.Her armed border disputes with Vietnam and India has proven that China’s intention was to push back the intruders through punitive action and then retreat back to the lines of demarcation.
Koh Jek Siew, Tibetan independence was recognised by all its neighbours. Even the new Republic of China of that time respected Tibetan independence. Tibet had many foreign relations by then too. Russia had no role in Tibet or regarding Tibet. British India recognised Tibetan independence. So British India & Tibet signed Shimla Treaty in 1914.
Yv Onne Koh keep on dreaming ..
ask your chinese manufacturers if india stops business with them then what will happen .your economy is export oriented nd if that stops you cannot do anything..nd tell your government to provide truth in your news papers
B.c. Quah vu ah vu ah. It’s not Nehru government, it’s Indian government now. We all Indian together Hindu, Muslim and sikhs
Shasana Kirti how about citing what are the countries which has recognised Tibetan independence. It is true that during certain periods the Imperial Ching government was too weak to control the provinces. Does it make Tibet independent while the British and Russian at that time still recognised the Ching government?
The Chinese are having boundary problems because when she was weak her neigbhours and western powers took advantage to carve her up. Now that China is strong it is only natural that those stolen lands be returned. With Taiwan the civil war has not ended. India interested to join in?
Then the Chinese will likewise blockade the western part of the Indian Ocean by operating out of Gwadar port.
What happend now
A.b. Bavani Sankar by building roads in area under China’s effective control is provoking India. Then India has all the while been provoking China in South Tibet
Rajendra Kumar similarly for India, if the wronged party protest, they are being aggressive, threatening and looking to subdue India, anti- India and victimising India. When India is being refused membership in the NSG, China is anti-India , conveniently ignoring that India refused to ratify the NPT.
Tobias Bjurefjäll I thought the missiles only fly in one direction, from India to China. Well according to Indians comments here it looks like there is a new law of physics.
well said�����
After all bezin damege by Own system .