By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
Top-line fighter planes will have to share the spotlight with air defense systems at China’s Zhuhai air show which begins on Nov. 12.
China’s new HQ-19 system is making its debut there, while Russia looks to offset a dramatic drop in arms exports by making a pitch for three air defense systems – one of which Moscow claims is “faster, cheaper and more effective” than the vaunted US Patriot missile system.
According to China Central Television, the HQ-19 is the People Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force’s newest surface-to-air missile system, designed to intercept ballistic missile targets and to counter hypersonic glide vehicles.
The HQ-19’s mobile launch vehicle is equipped with six interceptor missiles that use the so-called “cold launch” process. With a cold launch, compressed air or steam is used to propel missiles into the air before the main engine is ignited.
In an interview with the Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party’s English-language newspaper, military expert Zhang Xuefeng called the new system is just as significant as the Chengdu J-20, China’s twin-engine stealth fighter.
Zhang noted that other Chinese surface-to-air missile systems, such as the HQ-9 and HQ-22, focus more on anti-aircraft missions and have less range when it comes to defending against ballistic missiles. In recent conflicts, ballistic missiles have had considerable success against conventional air defense systems.
Meanwhile, Russia will be at the air show displaying what the Eurasian Times called the three pillars of its air defense – the S-400, the S-350 and the Buk-M3. Moscow is trying to revive its overseas arms sales at a time when it’s tough for the country to fill export orders due to demand for weapons by its own military.
Russia claims the S-400 is the world’s best air defense system. And Western analysts have admitted that much of what is said about the weapon is accurate. The S-400 is able to intercept low-flying cruise missiles at a distance of about 40 kilometers, while a full unit can engage 36 targets at the same time.
Still, according to reports, the S-400 has a mixed record in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The UK’s Ministry of Defence claims that Ukraine destroyed three of the units last year, and more claims about Ukrainian successes have been made this year.
As for the S-350, it reportedly made its first appearance in combat in August, 2022 and has been credited with a number of kills. It is said to be able to engage aircraft, cruise missiles and drones at a range of up to 150 kilometers, while being able to engage ballistic targets at up to 25 kilometers.
At an air show in India last year, a Russia military official said the S-350 was comparable to the US Patriot system – except that the Russian missiles were less expensive, faster and could hit lower-flying targets.
