HQ-16

HQ-16
HQ-16
	HQ-16A ground launcher
Type	Surface-to-air missile
Place of origin	People's Republic of China
Service history
In service	2011 – present
Used by	Primary user: China ; See Operators section for others
Production history
Manufacturer	Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST)
Specifications
Detonation; mechanism	impact / proximity
Engine	rocket motor
Propellant	solid fuel
Operational; range	40 kilometres (25 mi) (HQ-16/HQ-16A) (slant); 70 kilometres (43 mi) (HQ-16B); 160 kilometres (99 mi) (HQ-16C and HQ-16FE)
Flight altitude	15m to 27km (HQ-16FE)
Guidance; system	Semi-active radar homing
Launch; platform	Transporter erector launcher Ship

The HQ-16 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-16; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-16; pinyin: Hóng Qí-16; lit. 'Red Banner-16'; NATO reporting name: CH-SA-16)^[5]^[6] is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.^[1]^[4]

Development

Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the Almaz-Antey Corporation.^[5] It was initially developed as a naval system.^[1] In late-2011, China reported the "co-development between Russia and China" of the missile was complete.^[5]

The HQ-16B was developed by late-2011.^[5]

A ground battery consists of a command post, two multifunction radars, and four to six launchers. Each launcher has six missiles.^[1]

Operational history

The platform for the HHQ-16, the Type 054A frigate, entered service in 2008.^[7] The HQ-16A entered service in 2011.^[8]

The HQ-16A entered Chinese service in 2011.^[8]

Pakistan entered negotiations to purchase the missile in 2015.^[9] The LY-80s entered service with the Pakistan Army in March 2017.^[10]

Variants

HQ-16A

Original land-based variant^[1] with a range of 40 kilometres (25 mi).^[8]

HHQ-16

Naval variant,^[4] reportedly a domestic-produced variant of the 9M317ME missile.^[11]

HQ-16B

Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).^[1]

HQ-16C

Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).^[1]

LY-80

Export variant.^[12]

LY-80N

Export naval variant.^[12]

HQ-16FE

Improved variant with range up to 160 kilometres (99 mi).^[2]

Operators

People's Republic of China

People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 250 HQ-16A & HQ-16B^[13]
People's Liberation Army Navy – HHQ-16^[14]

Pakistan

Pakistan Army – LY-80^[12]
Pakistan Navy – LY-80N^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j United States Department of the Army 2021, p. C-3.
^ ^a ^b Chan, Minnie (15 November 2022). "China showcases latest missile defence systems at Zhuhai air show". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
^ "China unveils modern air defence system". Al Jundi Journal. Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c Schwartz 2015, p. 28.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Fisher, Richard D. Jr.; Gibson, Neil (7 September 2016). "China develops longer-range HQ-16 SAM variant". janes.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
^ "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. 15 February 2023. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^ Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2018). "PLAN inducts Type 054A frigate into North Sea Fleet". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Cazalet, Mark; Dominguez, Gabriel (1 March 2021). "Air-defence brigade under PLAGF's 78th Group Army receives HQ-16 SAM systems". Janes. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
^ Einhorn & Sidhu 2017, p. 54.
^ "Army inducts Chinese-built air defence system to its arsenal". Dawn.com. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
^ Tada, Tomohiko (January 2015), "Shipboard Weapons of the World", Ships of the World (811), Kaijin-sha: 61, NAID 40020297435
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 298.
^ The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 256. ISBN 978-1032780047.
^ The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 257. ISBN 978-1032780047.

Sources

Einhorn, Robert; Sidhu, W.P.S. (March 2017). The Strategic Chain: Linking Pakistan, India, China, and the United States (PDF) (Report). Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Series. Brookings Institution.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-03-227900-8.
Schwartz, Paul (August 2015). Russia's Contribution to China's Surface Warfare Capabilities: Feeding the Dragon (PDF). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-5879-2.
United States Department of the Army (9 August 2021). Chinese Tactics (PDF). Army Techniques Publication. Washington, D.C. 7-100.3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[FOOTNOTEUnited_States_Department_of_the_Army2021C-3-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j United States Department of the Army 2021, p. C-3.

[chan_2022-12-15-2] Chan, Minnie (15 November 2022). "China showcases latest missile defence systems at Zhuhai air show". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 3 February 2023.

[3] "China unveils modern air defence system". Al Jundi Journal. Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates. 1 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2025.

[FOOTNOTESchwartz201528-4] Schwartz 2015, p. 28.

[fisher-Gibson_2016-09-07-5] Fisher, Richard D. Jr.; Gibson, Neil (7 September 2016). "China develops longer-range HQ-16 SAM variant". janes.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 10 October 2016.

[IISS_2023-6] "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. 15 February 2023. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)

[Dominguez_2018-01-15-7] Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2018). "PLAN inducts Type 054A frigate into North Sea Fleet". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.

[janes_2021-03-8] Cazalet, Mark; Dominguez, Gabriel (1 March 2021). "Air-defence brigade under PLAGF's 78th Group Army receives HQ-16 SAM systems". Janes. Retrieved 17 November 2022.

[FOOTNOTEEinhornSidhu201754-9] Einhorn & Sidhu 2017, p. 54.

[10] "Army inducts Chinese-built air defence system to its arsenal". Dawn.com. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2022.

[11] Tada, Tomohiko (January 2015), "Shipboard Weapons of the World", Ships of the World (811), Kaijin-sha: 61, NAID 40020297435

[FOOTNOTEThe_International_Institute_for_Strategic_Studies2022298-12] The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 298.

[13] The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 256. ISBN 978-1032780047.

[14] The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. p. 257. ISBN 978-1032780047.

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