HQ-22 explained
The HQ-22 is a medium- to long-range semi-active radar homing/radio-command guidance air defence system developed and manufactured in China.
Description
The HQ-22 air defence system is a second generation development of the HQ-12 missile.[1] It is intended as a low-cost replacement for the HQ-2.
The missile is "wingless" compared to the preceding HQ-12. The missile uses semi-active radar guidance to reduce cost, and may switch to radio command guidance in an environment with "strong electronic interference".
A HQ-22 unit includes four to eight transporter erector launchers, each with four missiles. The radar vehicle reportedly permits six targets to be engaged simultaneously.[2]
The missile system has been widely compared to the United States' Patriot and Russia's mobile long range S-300 surface-to-air missile system. Although it has a shorter range than S-300 variants such as the S-300PMU-2, it is thought to benefit from superior electronic countermeasures (ECM) and superior capabilities against stealth targets at shorter ranges.
Variants
- HQ-22: Chinese domestic variant with speed of Mach 6 and a range of .[3]
- FK-3: Export variant with speed of Mach 6 and a maximum range of .[3]
History
The HQ-22 was publicly revealed at the 2016 China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition.[3]
The HQ-22 entered service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) by 2019.[4]
Serbia purchased the FK-3, the export variant, in 2019; they were delivered by PLAAF Xi'an Y-20 transport aircraft and entered service in April 2022.[5] They were the first Chinese medium- or long-range air defence system exported to Europe.[6]
In April 2021, India reported that China had deployed the HQ-22 near eastern Ladakh.[7]
Operators
Serbia
References
Sources
- Book: The International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2024 . 13 February 2024 . Routledge . London . 978-1-032-78004-7 .
Notes and References
- Web site: Serbia Orders Chinese Air Defense System. DefenseWorld.net. 4 August 2020. 21 April 2022. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806133344/https://www.defenseworld.net/news/27579/Serbia_Orders_Chinese_Air_Defense_System. 6 August 2020.
- Web site: Chaudhary. Smriti. 4 August 2020. Did Russian S-400s Got Dumped for Chinese Air Defence System by an Aspiring EU Nation?. The EurAsian Times. 21 April 2022. 9 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220409152331/https://eurasiantimes.com/did-russian-s-400s-got-dumped-for-chinese-air-defence-system-by-an-aspiring-eu-nation/. live.
- Web site: Kajal . Kapil . Royal Thai Navy unveils FK-3 air-defence system . Janes . 3 February 2023 . 26 April 2024 . 26 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240426084526/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-thai-navy-unveils-fk-3-air-defence-system . live .
- Book: The International Institute for Strategic Studies . The Military Balance 2019 . 15 February 2019 . Routledge . London . 978-1857439885 . 262.
- Web site: Bozinovski . Igor . Serbia unveils Chinese-made FK-3 air defence system . Janes . 6 May 2022 . 26 April 2024 . 26 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240426084526/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/serbia-unveils-chinese-made-fk-3-air-defence-system/ . live .
- Web site: Kastner . Jens . Serbia relies on China for weapons as tensions with Kosovo rise . Nikkei . 12 October 2023 . 13 October 2023 . 13 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231013122452/https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Defense/Serbia-relies-on-China-for-weapons-as-tensions-with-Kosovo-rise . live .
- News: India closely watching Chinese air defence batteries deployed near LAC. The Economic Times. Asian News International. 12 April 2021. 21 April 2022. 21 April 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220421171625/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-closely-watching-chinese-air-defence-batteries-deployed-near-lac/articleshow/82032998.cms. live.
