MissileThreat.com

Country:	China
Range:	200 km
Basing:	Land

Details

The Hongqi-15 (HQ-15) is a long-range, high-altitude, upgraded version of the Russian-made S-300PMU-1 (SA-10D Grumble). Currently manufactured and deployed by China, the system is designed to detect, track, and destroy incoming ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and low-flying aircraft.

 

In 1992, China began negotiating with Russia for the purchase of a series of S-300PMU-1 missiles. At the time, the S-300PMU1 was the most advanced Russian surface-to-air missile in existence, the latest version in the S-300P lineage that dates back to the 1960s. Still in service today, the S-300PMU1 is armed with single-stage, solid-fuel propelled 48N6 missiles, and has the capability to shoot down tactical ballistic missiles in addition to cruise missiles and aircraft, at ranges of 5-150 kilometers and altitudes between 10-27,000 meters.(1)

 

The 1,900-kilogram missile carries a 143 kilogram high-explosive fragmentation warhead. A typical S-300PMU-1 battery contains 48 missiles on 12 mobile launchers. Each battery is capable of launching one 48N6 missile every three seconds. The missiles are guided by the 36N85 vehicle-mounted engagement radar, which is capable of detecting incoming ballistic missiles at 40 kilometers, and aircraft between 3 and 150 kilometers. The 36N85 can guide up to twelve 48N6 missiles, while simultaneously tracking up to six targets.(2)

 

In 1993, China bought “dozens” of S-300PMU-1 missiles, and quickly deployed them around Beijing.(3) China’s interest in the Russian missile stemmed from (1) its quest for “great power status” by way of military modernization and (2) the very real possibility of a high-tech conflict with Taiwan. Two years later, Russia gave China clearance to begin manufacturing its own S-300s under the nomenclature Hongqi-10 (HQ-10).(4)

 

In addition to the HQ-10, China developed and manufactured its own upgraded version of the S-300PMU-1 known as the Hongqi-15 (HQ-15). The HQ-15 is similar to the HQ-10 in most ways, the main difference being its longer range: while the HQ-10 can engage targets up to 150 kilometers away, the upgraded HQ-15 has a range of 200 kilometers.(5) This extended range makes the HQ-10 the “king weapon” of China’s air defense, and a key element of its ballistic missile defense. According to the Shijie Ribao newspaper, the HQ-15 is manufactured with approximately 70 percent Chinese-made parts, an indication of China’s decreasing reliance on Russian hardware.(6)

 

China is currently deploying the HQ-15 along its eastern coastal zone—a highly developed region which produces up to 60 percent of its gross domestic product—and around the most important military bases, industrial complexes, and population centers in its eastern regions.(7) The deployment of the HQ-15 near the Taiwan Strait—as well as the S-300PMU-1/HQ-10, the HQ-16, the HQ-17, and the HQ-18—is primarily intended to counter threats from Taiwan, in particular Mirage (Mirage-2000) fighters but also ballistic missiles.(8)

 

China might be attempting to upgrade the HQ-15 to the level of the Russian S-400 (SA-20 Triumf), a next-generation missile with a reported range of 400 kilometers, giving it increased capability against aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles. Missile defense experts Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda suggest that China could achieve the S-400 upgrade merely “by substituting a small number of key components.”(9) The deployment of a Chinese S-400-like missile system would further expand China’s air and missile defenses, which are already quite robust.

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

 

 

1. Center for Nonproliferation Studies.
2. Ibid.
3. “Negotiations Begin For More Russian Arms,” Flight International, 2 September 1992; Ruth Sinai, “China Acquires Russian Missiles,” The Associated Press, 27 May 1993.
4. Alexander Velovich, “Chinese Aspire to SU-27 Production,” Flight International, 22 March 1995.
5. Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda, “Summarizing the Great Threat,” NewsMax, 16 July 2002. 
6. “China Serially Produces Hongqi-15 Missile [System] — the King of Air Defense,” Shijie Ribao, 24 June 2002, p. A7, in Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda, “Summarizing the Great Threat,” NewsMax, 16 July 2002.
7. Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda, “Summarizing the Great Threat,” NewsMax, 16 July 2002.
8. “China Serially Produces Hongqi-15 Missile [System] — the King of Air Defense,” Shijie Ribao, 24 June 2002, p. A7, in Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda, “Summarizing the Great Threat,” NewsMax, 16 July 2002.
9. Alexandr Nemets and Thomas Torda, “Summarizing the Great Threat,” NewsMax, 16 July 2002.

Chinese Missile Defenses in Response to Taiwan

January 26, 2005 :: East Asia Intel :: News

As Taiwan begins to deploy some limited missile capabilities in hopes to deter China’s massive short range ballistic missile threat, China is pursuing short-range ballistic missile defenses to negate the Taiwanese response and retain strategic superiority. East-Asia-Intel.com cites a U.S. intelligence official as commenting on Chinese missile defenses. As the report notes, these missile defense systems are based in part on Russian versions which the Chinese continue to purchase, including the S-300V and S-300PMU, which the Chinese test, probably deploy, and reverse-engineer to develop their HQ- series of missiles. (Article, Link) 

» More stories on: Chinese Missile Defenses, Russian Missile Defenses

» Missile system details for: Hongqi-9 (HQ-9), Hongqi-10 (HQ-10), Hongqi-15 (HQ-15), S-300P (SA-10 Grumble), S-300V (SA-12A Gladiator, SA-12B Giant)