Chinese Air Defence System for Export and Its Capabilities
The HQ16A or LY-80 is a Chinese-made medium-range surface-to-air defense missile system that was introduced in the Chinese armed forces in September 2011. The HQ-16 is produced by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp (CASC). Using advanced technologies, of intermittent illumination semi-active radar homing guidance, phased array radar, vertical cold launch, and radio communication network, the LY-80 can be operated under the environment of strong electro-magnetic interference and during all-weather conditions. This is a land-based version of the HQ-16 system used in ships (and fired from VLS (Vertical Launch System) containers. The HQ-16A is based on the joint development of the Russian Buk-M1 (SA-11 ‘Gadfly’) and Buk-2M (SA-17 ‘Grizzly’) Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems, for use from mobile ground vehicles and later from ships. The HQ-16A is able to engage aerial targets at high altitudes; the mid-range HQ-16 is also able to intercept very low-flying targets at a distance of up to about 40 kilometers, filling the gap between the HQ-7 short-range SAM and the HQ-9 long-range SAM systems. The HQ-16A missile can hit targets of an altitude from 400 to 10,000 meters. According to the SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) arms transfer database, three units of the LY-80 were ordered by Pakistan in 2014 and delivered in 2015/2016. The Pakistan Army formally inducted the LY-80 (HQ-16) medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system on March 12, 2017. In January 2018, the Pakistani army has performed the first live firing with the LY-80 during the military exercise Al Bayza-2019.
Armament
The HQ16A (LY-80) launcher missile system is carried by an 8x8 truck that contains a command and control station behind the cab, and behind those are six firing missile containers in two rows of three. These containers are tilted back so that the missiles can be fired straight up, just as they are from VLS (Vertical Launch System) cells. In firing position, the wheels are raised off the ground and the carriage is supported at four points by hydraulic jacks, two at the rear, and one on each side.
Missile
The HQ16A (LY-80) missile can intercept the aerial flying target at an altitude from 15 m to 18 km, while its maximum interception range for combat aircraft is 40 km, and between 3.5 km and 12 km for cruise missiles flying at an altitude of 50 meters at a speed of 300 meters/second. Single-shot kill probability is a claimed figure of 85 percent against combat aircraft, and 60 percent against cruise missiles. The missile guidance system is of the composite type, comprising initial independent inertial guidance and intermittent illumination and semi-active homing terminal guidance. The missile has a length of 5.2 m, a weight of 650 kg, and can fly at a maximum speed of 1,200 m/s.
Mobility
The launcher unit of the LY-80 is based on the Chinese-made TA5350 6x6 military truck chassis which was specially designed to carry missiles, radars, and other military equipment. The truck is manufactured by the Company Taian Special Vehicle Company. The TA5350 is motorized with a Deutz BF6M1015 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 250 hp. produced under license in China. Standard equipment of the TA5350 includes a central tire inflation system, that can be adjusted on the move from the driver’s seat. It can run at a maximum road speed of 85 km/h with a maximum road range of 1,000 km. The TA5350 can climb a gradient of 60% and a side slope of 30%. It can cross a vertical obstacle of 0.5 m, a trench of 0.6 m, and has a fording depth of 1 m without preparation.
Control and command systems
The HQ16A (LY-80) SAM components include one searching radar vehicle, one command vehicle, 3 radar tracking and guidance vehicles, 12 launcher unit vehicles, and missiles canisters. Technical support equipment includes missile transportation and loading vehicle, power supply vehicle, maintenance vehicle, and missile-test equipment. A single radar guidance vehicle controls two to four launcher units with six missiles ready to launch. The command vehicle is responsible to send target information and combat orders.
The searching radar vehicle is equipped with solid-state S-band 3-D passive phased-array radar mounted on the top of a mast. When the target is detected, the searching radar vehicle performs automatic IFF (Identification Friend-or-Foe), threat judgment, flight path processing, and provide target engagement information for the tracking-and-guidance radar. The S-band radar has a range of 140 km and can detect targets flying at an altitude of 20 km.
The tracking and guidance radar vehicle perform target acquisition and tracking, and identification of target types. It also controls the missile launching and illuminates the target after the missile is fired. L-band passive phased-array radar is mounted at the rear of the vehicle and has a range of 85 km. The L-band radar can detect up to six targets and track four of them, and provide fire-control/guidance for up to eight missiles.
