China to Exhibit Cutting Edge Air Defense System HQ-19 at Air China
12 November, 2024 China's Hongqi-19 (HQ-19) air defense system. Photo credits: China Central Television China will present its Hongqi-19 (HQ-19) missile defense system at the Air China exhibition.
The Chinese newspaper Global Times has reported that this will be the first public demonstration of China's most advanced air defense system. It is stated that the HQ-19 systems, which are often compared to the US THAAD system, are capable of intercepting targets at a distance of up to 500 km. The unit consists of two launch platforms mounted on a wheeled 8x8 chassis, each carrying six missiles.
The system also includes a command and control center and an integrated radar with a detection range of up to 4,000 kilometers.
China's Hongqi-19 (HQ-19) air defense system. Photo credits: Weibo
The HQ-19 system has been under development since the late 1990s.
Since then, it has undergone numerous tests, including intercepting targets at altitudes of over 200 km and at speeds of up to 36,000 km/h. The Chinese government announced a successful test of the system in 2021. The HQ-19 is a further development of the Chinese HQ-9 air defense system, which is a modification of the Russian S-300.
The Washington-based think tank mentions that the Chinese system can intercept targets in the mid- or late-stage of flight. Officially, HQ-19 has not yet been deployed and is not expected to have the capability to engage targets of the intercontinental ballistic missile class. "However, it may be adapted for this task in the future," the Atlantic Council added.
China's Hongqi-19 (HQ-19) air defense system. Photo credits: root-nation.com
The Atlantic Council reports that the HQ-19 demonstration aims to address concerns about China's preparedness to counter an initial missile strike from potential adversaries, including the United States or India, which is expanding its nuclear arsenal. Another anticipated task of the HQ-19 could be to protect against possible attacks by China's network of silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles.
The system can also be used to protect command and control centers and critical infrastructure.