Hongqi-7 short-range anti-aircraft missile
7. Hongqi-7 short-range anti-aircraft missile
The HQ-7 is a short-range surface-to-air missile independently developed by China, which was successfully developed by the Changfeng Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Technology on the basis of the French Crotale missile technology. It was put into service in the early 1980s and was mainly used to protect low-altitude air defense in important target areas.
The HQ-7 ground launch system consists of a search radar and 3 launchers, each of which is equipped with 4 or 8 missiles. The HQ-7 uses a solid rocket engine with a weight of 84.5 kg, a length of 3 meters, and a diameter of 0.156 meters. Its maximum operating range is 8 km (against high-speed targets) or 15 km (against low-speed targets).
The HQ-7 is available in several versions, including the early command-guided HQ-7A, the naval model HHQ-7, the performance-enhancing HQ-7B, and others. The main export models are FM-80 (based on HQ-7A) and FM-90 (based on HQ-7B).
At present, the HQ-7 series missiles are mainly equipped by China, Iran, Pakistan, Algeria, Bangladesh and Turkmenistan. The Bangladesh Army and Air Force use the FM-90, and the Navy uses the FM-90N and HHQ-7.
The HQ-7 missile has the characteristics of rapid response, high hitting accuracy, and strong anti-jamming ability. It is capable of effective interception of low-altitude and high-speed targets and is an important component of short-range air defense in important target areas. But compared to other new anti-aircraft missiles, the performance and combat capabilities of the HQ-7 are relatively limited.
China has also developed a variety of improved models based on the HQ-7 and deployed them on a large scale. This makes the HQ-7 series missile one of the important low-altitude anti-aircraft weapons of the Chinese army and navy since the 1980s. With the increasing improvement of China's air defense system, the HQ-7 is expected to be gradually replaced by a new air defense system.
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile
6.RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile
The RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile is a shipborne short-range face-to-air missile developed by the United States in the 1960s, which is mainly used to intercept short-range air targets such as anti-ship missiles. It is derived from the AIM-7 air-to-air missile and utilizes semi-active radar guidance. The Sea Sparrow missile uses a single-thrust rocket engine with a maximum speed of Mach 2.6 and an effective range of 19 kilometers.
The Sea Sparrow missile began testing on an American frigate in 1967 and was equipped with Knox-class frigates in 1971-1975. Subsequently, after many improvements, models such as RIM-7H, RIM-7F, and RIM-7M were developed. These models of missiles have increased folding wing surfaces, enlarged warheads, improved guidance modes, and increased interception capabilities against low-altitude targets.
The upgraded RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow missile uses a larger diameter body, increased thrust, a new guidance section and more flexible tail control flight, and greatly improved performance. The ESSM missile is housed in the Mk41 vertical launch system with a 4-pack launcher and has become the standard short-range anti-aircraft weapon for ships of multinational navies. To date, the Sea Sparrow missile is still widely used in the navies of the United States and many other countries.
Hongqi-10 short-range anti-aircraft missile
5. Hongqi-10 short-range anti-aircraft missile
The HQ-10 is a shipborne short-range face-to-air missile developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation for short-range point defense. It was first equipped with the USS Liaoning aircraft carrier and Type 056 frigates in 2011.
The HQ-10 missile is about 2 meters long and 0.12 meters in diameter, and the warhead is a 3-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation grenade. It has a maximum effective range of 9 km (against low-speed targets) or 6 km (against high-speed targets) and a minimum engagement altitude of only 1.5 meters. The HQ-10 uses an advanced matrix imaging infrared homing head.
The launcher is modular and can carry 8, 15, 18 or 24 missiles depending on the size of the ship. The reaction time of the whole system is about 10 seconds. The HQ-10 is similar to the American RAM short-range defense missile and is used for the close point defense of ships.
The HHQ-10 is the naval version of the HQ-10 and has been deployed on the Liaoning and Shandong aircraft carriers, the Type 054A frigates, the 052D destroyer, the 055 large destroyer, and the Type 056 frigate.
The FL-3000N is considered an export model of the HQ-10, which was developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. The FL-3000N has certain differences from the HQ-10, such as the tail of the missile is triangular. It uses hybrid guidance, combining imaging infrared and millimeter-wave radar modes. Single-mode guidance using only infrared is also available.
The launch system of the FL-3000N is similar to that of the HQ-10, with a standard 24-missile load, but it is also available in 8-piece and 4-pack versions. There is also a single-gun version that can be installed on existing naval guns. It has been exported to Bangladesh and Nigeria.
In general, the HQ-10 is similar to the American RAM in that it is a shipborne short-range self-defense weapon system. It reacts quickly and hits with high accuracy, and can be used to intercept a variety of low-altitude incoming targets. This makes the HQ-10 an important component of the terminal defense of important combat ships. But compared to medium and long-range anti-aircraft missiles, the defense range of the close defense system is limited.
China is also continuing to improve the HQ-10 and has launched a variety of overseas export models such as the FL-3000N. The continued development and deployment of these systems will help improve the close-range defense capabilities of the Chinese Navy's ship platforms.
Sidewinder missiles
4. Sidewinder missiles
The Sidewinder (Crotale) missile is an all-weather short-range anti-aircraft missile developed by the French company Thomson-CSF (now Thales Group) to intercept various air targets such as missiles, helicopters, drones or fighter jets. The missile was originally developed for South Africa and later adopted by the French military to equip the army and navy.
The Sidewinder missile system consists mainly of a transport vehicle with 2-8 launchers mounted on the transporter and a tracking and surveillance radar on the radar vehicle. Each system can track up to 8 targets at the same time. The Sidewinder missile is propelled by a solid rocket engine and accelerates to 2.3 times the speed of sound in 15 seconds. The missile uses command line guidance and infrared homing to attack the target, and when it is close to the target, the infrared guidance device of the warhead is activated to detonate the warhead.
The Sidewinder missile has undergone several generations of upgrades, the Crotale NG is an improved version introduced in 1990, using a more advanced VT-1 missile, which can reach 3.5 times the speed of sound, increase the payload to 35G, have an effective range of 11 kilometers, and a warhead weighing 13 kilograms, which can attack targets at an altitude of 6,000 meters. The upgraded system is equipped with a variety of radars, such as S-band pulse Doppler radar (20 km), Ku-band tracking radar (30 km), etc. South Korea and Greece have also purchased the Crotale NG system.
In 2008, France test-fired the upgraded Crotale Mark 3 system, whose VT1 missiles successfully intercepted and destroyed drone targets at a distance of 8 km. France has also developed a combined self-propelled launcher for naval ships and land, with a system capable of carrying eight missiles and fully autonomous combat capability. More than 6,600 Sidewinder missiles have been sold, and they are still in service with many countries so far. It is small and lightweight, and at the same time has good mobility and combat effect, and is one of the classic weapons of short-range point air defense.
Mistral man-portable anti-aircraft missile
3. Mistral man-portable anti-aircraft missile
Mistral is an infrared-guided portable short-range anti-aircraft missile system developed by the French company Matra Defense (now part of MBDA). It can be carried and operated by individuals, and can also be installed on platforms such as vehicles, ships and helicopters. The Mistral missile uses a two-stage solid rocket engine, with a maximum flight speed of 2.7 times the speed of sound and an effective range of 6 kilometers.
The Mistral missile system entered service in 1988 and underwent two major upgrades, in 1997 and 2019. The Mistral-3 missiles currently in service have increased the maximum range and anti-jamming capabilities. The Mistral missile can choose semi-active radar guidance or infrared passive guidance, and has all-round attack capabilities. Correcting the use of gyroscopes for proportional navigation in flight significantly improves the accuracy of hits in complex conditions.
The Mistral missile and launcher are combined into a variety of models, including ground individual soldier models, vehicle-mounted models, submarine self-defense models, carrier-based models and helicopter models, etc., to meet the needs of diversified use. To date, the armies of 37 countries have been equipped with Mistral anti-aircraft missiles.
RIM-116 Ram missile
2.RIM-116拉姆导弹
The RIM-116 roll-around missile is a small infrared-guided short-range face-to-air missile, jointly developed by General Dynamics (now Raytheon) of the United States and Diehl BGT Defence of Germany. It uses a unique "roll" flight method, in which the missile constantly rolls in flight, so that it only needs a pair of vector wings to control. This design makes it possible to greatly improve the missile's anti-jamming ability and maneuverability.
The roll-around missile system consists of the Mk 49 launcher, radar and control equipment, which is mainly used for close defense against enemy anti-ship missiles. The navies of the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and other countries are equipped with this system. The Roll Rotor missile uses a solid rocket motor and has a maximum flight speed of more than 2 times the speed of sound, with an engagement range of 6.2 miles (10 km).
The Roll Rotor missile was developed in 1985 and entered service in 1992. After several generations of improved upgrades, the Block 2 type missiles currently in use have an active radar guidance mode and an optimized infrared search and guidance system. The SeaRAM system integrates a multi-functional radar with a 20-mm Phalanx fast gun, enabling the roll-to-turn missile to achieve fully autonomous combat capabilities. In total, the United States plans to purchase about 1,600 missiles and 115 launchers of this type to equip a number of surface ships.
RIM-162 missiles
1.RIM-162 missile
The RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow missile (ESSM) is a medium-range anti-aircraft missile developed by the American company Raytheon. It is an upgraded version of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile, which is used to protect ships from incoming missiles and aircraft. The ESSM is designed specifically to combat high-speed maneuvering anti-ship missiles. It can also be installed on the Mk 41 vertical launch system, in the form of a quadruple, one launch unit can carry 4 ESSM missiles.
Compared with the original Sea Sparrow, the ESSM uses a larger and more powerful rocket engine, which has improved range and maneuverability; Aerodynamics have also been improved. In addition, the ESSM uses the latest guidance technology and can be used in conjunction with different radar systems.
ESSM entered service in 2004. It has been adopted by the navies of Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States. To date, more than 2,000 ESSMs have been delivered.
In the 2000s, the NATO Seagull Missile Program Office began planning an upgraded version of ESSM Block 2. Based on the original Block 1, ESSM Block 2 is equipped with a dual-mode X-band homing head to improve maneuverability and other improvements.
The main launch systems of the ESSM are the Mk 41 vertical launch system and the Mk 48 vertical launch system. The Mk 48 system is flexible in installation and can be installed in the limited space of the ship. ESSM's successor, the Mk 56 vertical launch system, uses more composite materials and is more than 48% lighter than the Mk 20.
ESSM has been successfully used in many Xi exercises and actual combat. In 2008, the Mk 29 launcher of the American aircraft carrier USS John Stennis shot down a target for the first time. In 2013, ESSM successfully intercepted a high-speed dive supersonic test target. In 2016, the USS Mason launched an ESSM to intercept an incoming Houthi anti-ship cruise missile.
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