Errymath: HQ-9

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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3E5iusEIz878qCgUMefBFD3FtpvFbC23rPzOHr1lvpFKcU0r4GRiqsqQYNnjuCo7_vEOIfy40Ms-gMtWpY3fSLxi_bcG8-a2HJwZFQBVuQ6q4qGXLRkjxVW4B0KZh5Mk9UarSs5H9PA/s1600/hhq-9-ignition+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="HHQ-9" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3E5iusEIz878qCgUMefBFD3FtpvFbC23rPzOHr1lvpFKcU0r4GRiqsqQYNnjuCo7_vEOIfy40Ms-gMtWpY3fSLxi_bcG8-a2HJwZFQBVuQ6q4qGXLRkjxVW4B0KZh5Mk9UarSs5H9PA/s640/hhq-9-ignition+-+Copy.jpg" title="HHQ-9" width="438" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile </td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
The HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile (SAM) is the primary air 
defence weapon aboard the 052C class DDG, and is likely to be present 
aboard the improved 052D class DDG, as well as the future 055 class 
large DDG.<br />
Therefore, HHQ-9 can be considered to be the Chinese Navy’s mainstay long range anti air and anti missile SAM system.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_228" style="width: 481px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HHQ-9-VLS-detail.jpg"><img alt="HHQ-9 VLS detail aboard 052C, with VLS cover opened" class=" wp-image-228" height="403" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/HHQ-9-VLS-detail.jpg" width="640" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">HHQ-9 VLS detail aboard 052C, with VLS cover opened</figcaption></figure>
However, considerable ambiguities regarding the capability and the 
nature of the HHQ-9 still remain, due to a lack of official information 
regarding the HHQ-9. The capabilities of HHQ-9 are sometimes further 
confused with that of the land based HQ-9 SAM (from which HHQ-9 is 
derived) and the export variant FD-2000, but there is reason to believe 
the naval HHQ-9 may feature some substantial differences to the land 
based HQ-9 and export FD-2000.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_229" style="width: 579px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/hq-9.jpg"><img alt="Land based HQ-9 SAM system, which the HHQ-9 SAM is derived from" class=" wp-image-229" height="398" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/hq-9.jpg" width="640" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Land based HQ-9 SAM system, which the HHQ-9 SAM is derived from</figcaption></figure>
<h3>
Range:</h3>
The HHQ-9’s range is a subject of some debate. It should be prefaced 
that the effective range of any type of missile is dependent on the 
target it is assigned to engage – a naval SAM or a beyond visual range 
air to air missile would have a substantially higher effective range 
against a high flying, low speed target such as a maritime patrol 
aircraft, compared to an incoming supersonic cruise missile at low 
altitude. Therefore, following discussion of HHQ-9’s range is done so in
 this context, and is assumed to be maximum slant range against a high 
flying aerial target.<br />
The range for HHQ-9 has been cited between 100 to 120 kilometers; in a 
report by the US Office of Naval Intelligence, HHQ-9 has been cited as 
having a range of 55 nautical miles or slightly over 100 kilometers, but
 the export variant FD-2000 is said to have a range of 120 kilometers, 
and various Chinese language sources including state media (CCTV) have 
reported 052C to be equipped with a SAM whose range exceeds 150 
kilometers.<br />
Additional confusion exists, one when considers that initial HHQ-9 
variants may have been superseded by improved capability HHQ-9 variants 
with longer range, therefore it is difficult to ascertain just which 
variant of HHQ-9 may be present aboard current ship classes.<br />
However, taking this array of differing information into consideration, 
it is possible to judge that the maximum effective range of current 
variant HHQ-9 is likely to be between 100 kilometers and 150 kilometers.<br />

<br />

<h3>
Minimum Altitude:</h3>
Ambiguity surrounding HHQ-9’s minimum altitude has received less 
coverage than that of its maximum range, but it is potentially as 
equally important.<br />
The minimum altitude of a SAM would very much determine its ability to 
destroy low flying targets such as sea skimming cruise missiles, 
especially during the terminal phase.<br />
HHQ-9’s minimum altitude has been cited to be anywhere from 500 meters 
to 25 meters. The 500 meter altitude has been associated to past 
brochures for the land based HQ-9, however it is unlikely that the land 
based HQ-9 would have such a poor minimum altitude given it is 
insufficient to intercept even relatively low flying aircraft, therefore
 the 500 meter minimum altitude is likely to be an incorrect number. The
 25 meter minimum altitude is cited for the export variant FD-2000, and 
while it is far more realistic for a land based SAM, it still appears 
excessively high to effectively intercept sea skimming cruise missiles 
whose terminal altitude may be as low as five to ten meters above sea 
level. On the other hand it is notable that the naval HHQ-9 likely 
features the same 180 kilogram fragmenting warhead as HQ-9 and FD-2000, 
which may feature a blast radius large enough to compensate for an 
insufficiently low minimum altitude and thus retain the capability to 
kill a sea skimming target.<br />
But despite all the above, there is reason to question whether the naval
 HHQ-9 may have a minimum altitude even lower than 25 meters, as land 
variants and naval variants of the same SAM may feature differing 
minimum altitudes, possibly due to the nature of more alternating 
terrain for a land based SAM which may produce greater clutter when 
trying to track a low flying target, as well as vertical features such 
as trees or buildings which may further limit the minimum range of a SAM
 (but also any incoming missile).<br />
For instance, the European SAMP/T long range land based SAM is a variant
 of the naval Aster 30 long range SAM. SAMP/T is cited by MBDA with a 
minimum altitude of 50 meters, however Aster 30 is well known to be 
capable of intercepting sea skimming targets at lower altitudes as well.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_224" style="width: 569px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/aster-30-sampt.jpg"><img alt="The European SAMP/T is a land based air defence system derived from the Aster 30 naval SAM. The manufacturer states SAMP/T to have a 50m minimum altitude, however the Aster 30 is also known to be capable of engaging very low altitude sea skimming targets" class=" wp-image-224" height="381" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/aster-30-sampt.jpg" width="569" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">The
 European SAMP/T is a land based air defence system derived from the 
Aster 30 naval SAM. The manufacturer states SAMP/T to have a 50m minimum
 altitude, however the Aster 30 is also known to be capable of engaging 
very low altitude sea skimming targets</figcaption></figure>
Therefore, the minimum altitude of HHQ-9 is likely to be sufficient 
for intercepting sea skimming targets, and directly assuming HHQ-9 
features the same effective range of its land based counterparts may be a
 significant error in logic.<br />
Indeed, given the role of HHQ-9 as the Chinese Navy’s primary long range
 naval SAM, it would be quite a limitation if it were incapable of 
intercepting low altitude sea skimming missiles.<br />

<br />

<h3>
Guidance:</h3>
HHQ-9’s guidance is another point of contention which has significant consequences regarding the capability of the missile.<br />
Semi active radar homing (SARH) missiles rely on an external source to 
illuminate a target, whereupon a seeker on the missile homes onto the 
reflected beam. For modern surface to air and air to air missiles (among
 other types), this illumination is typically necessary only during the 
terminal phase of engagement. For naval SAMs, this external illumination
 is usually provided by a fire control radar aboard a ship operating in 
the X band.<br />

Active radar homing (ARH) missiles however, feature a radar onboard 
the missile itself so that it can “self guide” itself during the 
terminal phase of engagement, and thus are sometimes described as “fire 
and forget”. This name is not entirely strictly true, because a missile 
equipped with ARH still has to rely on midcourse guidance provided by a 
ship or an aircraft via datalink, prior to the terminal phase.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_232" style="width: 550px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/homing.jpg"><img alt="A simplified diagram of SARH guidance, ARH guidance, and command guidance (unmentioned in the post)" class="size-full wp-image-232" height="253" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/homing.jpg" width="550" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">A simplified diagram of SARH guidance, ARH guidance, and passive guidance (unmentioned in the post)</figcaption></figure>
However, one meaningful difference between SARH and ARH SAMs, is that
 SARH SAM equipped ships with older mechanically oriented fire control 
radar illuminators may not be capable of engaging as many targets 
simultaneously as a ship with ARH SAMs, due to the necessity of time 
sharing its illuminators during the terminal phase. A ship equipped with
 ARH SAMs on the other hand, do not require any support from the ship 
itself during the terminal phase. One method to increase the number of 
simultaneous engagements for SARH SAMs is by employing an X band active 
phased array radar, which can generate a substantially larger number of 
beams for terminal illumination at once compared to traditional single 
beam mechanically oriented illuminators.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_230" style="width: 583px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SPG-62-terminal-illuminator.jpg"><img alt="Mechanically oriented single beam SPG-62 terminal illuminators aboard a Burke class DDG. Such illuminators may limit the number of targets which can be simultaneously engaged by SARH SAMs " class=" wp-image-230" height="437" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/SPG-62-terminal-illuminator.jpg" width="583" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Mechanically
 oriented single beam SPG-62 terminal illuminators aboard a Burke class 
DDG (they are the two satellites dish-esque antennae; a Burke is 
equipped with three SPG-62s whiel a Ticonderoga class CG is equipped 
with four). Such illuminators may limit the number of targets which can 
be simultaneously engaged by SARH SAMs</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_223" style="width: 639px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/APAR-x-band.jpg"><img alt="Thales APAR system, equipped aboard multiple classes of European frigates. The APAR system is capable of providing multiple beams for terminal illumination, allowing a ship with SARH SAMs to simultaneously engage far more targets simultaneously compared to a ship equipped with a fixed number of mechanically oriented illuminators" class=" wp-image-223" height="426" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/APAR-x-band.jpg" width="639" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Thales
 APAR system, equipped aboard multiple classes of European frigates. The
 APAR system is capable of providing multiple beams for terminal 
illumination, allowing a ship with SARH SAMs to simultaneously engage 
far more targets simultaneously compared to a ship equipped with a fixed
 number of mechanically oriented illuminators</figcaption></figure>
In the case of HHQ-9, it is generally accepted that it is guided by 
ARH rather than SARH. Arguments that HHQ-9 may use older SARH guidance 
may have arisen due to rumours of the land based HQ-9 using Russian 
derived seekers with Track Via Missile type guidance, however this has 
never been substantiated by documents from the manufacturer. More 
importantly, the export variant FD-2000 itself features ARH guidance, 
therefore it is unlikely for the Chinese to be willing to export a 
missile variant with more capable guidance than what itself is fielding.<br />
Additional evidence which indicates the HHQ-9 fields ARH guidance, is 
the very visible lack of terminal illuminators aboard the 052C class DDG
 (as well as the 052D DDG, which is almost certainly equipped with an 
HHQ-9 variant as well). The 052C class DDG is equipped with the S band 
Type 346 active phased array radar. S band radars are insufficient to 
provide terminal guidance, which is usually provided by X band radars, 
but are sufficient for providing midcourse guidance data. Therefore, 
unless the Type 346 radar is actually an X band radar (which is an 
immensely unlikely prospect), then the only viable guidance solution 
remaining, is for HHQ-9 to be an ARH missile.<br />

<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_225" style="width: 724px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fd-2000-arh.jpg"><img alt="FD-2000 is an ARH guided SAM, and is the export variant of the land based HQ-9 SAM" class=" wp-image-225" height="480" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fd-2000-arh.jpg" width="724" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">FD-2000 is an ARH guided SAM, and is the export variant of the land based HQ-9 SAM</figcaption></figure>
<figure class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_226" style="width: 724px;"><a href="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fd-2000-range-pic.jpg"><img alt="FD-2000 missile geometry" class=" wp-image-226" height="489" src="http://plarealtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/fd-2000-range-pic.jpg" width="724" /></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">FD-2000 missile geometry</figcaption></figure>
<br />
<b> Variants:</b><br />

The <a href="http://plarealtalk.com/2015/11/15/profile-hhq-9-naval-sam/" target="_blank">HHQ-9 missile</a> will likely remain the mainstay long range SAM for 
the Chinese Navy, and will likely feature substantial upgrades to 
enhance its capability in the same way that the US Navy has continuously
 upgraded its Standard Missile family.<br />
Indeed, it has been suggested that an HHQ-9A variant with extended range
 that may already be in service. An HHQ-9B variant with additional 
imaging infrared seeker may also have been in development or be in 
development.<br />

<br />

HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile

HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile The HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile (SAM) is the primary air defence weapon aboard the 052C cl...

Errymath

HHQ-9 naval surface to air missile

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