Engineering:HQ-16
The HQ-16 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-16; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-16; pinyin: Hóng Qí-16; literally: 'Red Banner-16'; NATO reporting name: CH-SA-16)[1][2] is a Chinese medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).[3] It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.[4][5]
Development
Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the Almaz-Antey Corporation.[1] It was initially developed as a naval system.[4] In late-2011, China reported the "co-development between Russia and China" of the missile was complete.[1]
The HQ-16B was developed by late-2011.[1]
A ground battery consists of a command post, two multifunction radars, and four to six launchers. Each launcher has six missiles.[4]
The HQ-16 is effective in intercepting tactical ballistic missiles.[6]
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[4] with a range of 40 kilometres (25 mi).[8]
- HHQ-16
- Naval variant,[5] reportedly a domestic-produced variant of the 9M317ME missile.[11]
- HQ-16B
- Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).[4]
- HQ-16C
- Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).[4]
- HHQ-16C
- Improved extended-range naval variant.[12]
- LY-80
- Export variant.[13]
- LY-80N
- Export naval variant.[13]
- HQ-16FE
- Improved variant with range up to 160 kilometres (99 mi).[14]
Operators
People's Republic of China
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force – 250 HQ-16A & HQ-16B[15]
- People's Liberation Army Navy – HHQ-16[16]
Pakistan
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "China develops longer-range HQ-16 SAM variant". 7 September 2016. http://www.janes.com/article/63500/china-develops-longer-range-hq-16-sam-variant.
- ↑ The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge.
- ↑ "LY Series". http://www.sast.net/product/38.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 United States Department of the Army 2021, p. C-3.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Schwartz 2015, p. 28.
- ↑ Mezey, Jacob (10 September 2024). "Russian and Chinese strategic missile defense: Doctrine, capabilities, and development". https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-research-reports/issue-brief/russian-and-chinese-strategic-missile-defense-doctrine-capabilities-and-development/.
- ↑ Dominguez, Gabriel (15 January 2018). "PLAN inducts Type 054A frigate into North Sea Fleet". http://www.janes.com/article/77048/plan-inducts-type-054a-frigate-into-north-sea-fleet.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Cazalet, Mark; Dominguez, Gabriel (1 March 2021). "Air-defence brigade under PLAGF's 78th Group Army receives HQ-16 SAM systems". https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/air-defence-brigade-under-plagfs-78th-group-army-receives-hq-16-sam-systems.
- ↑ Einhorn & Sidhu 2017, p. 54.
- ↑ "Army inducts Chinese-built air defence system to its arsenal". 12 March 2017. https://www.dawn.com/news/1320053.
- ↑ Tada, Tomohiko (January 2015), "Shipboard Weapons of the World", Ships of the World (Kaijin-sha) (811): 61, NAID 40020297435
- ↑ Barnes, Joe (3 September 2025). "Six weapons China really wants you to see". https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/09/03/six-weapons-china-wants-you-to-see/.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2022, p. 298.
- ↑ Chan, Minnie (15 November 2022). "China showcases latest missile defence systems at Zhuhai air show" (in en). South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3199586/china-showcases-latest-hongqi-missile-defence-systems-zhuhai-air-show.
- ↑ The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 13 February 2024. p. 256. ISBN 978-1032780047.
- ↑ The Military Balance 2024. International Institute for Strategic Studies. 13 February 2024. 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 (Report). Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Series. Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/acnpi_201703_strategic_chain.pdf.
- 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. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-1-4422-5879-2. https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/150824_Schwartz_RussiaContribChina_Web.pdf.
- United States Department of the Army (9 August 2021). Chinese Tactics. Army Techniques Publication. Washington, D.C.. 7-100.3. https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN33195-ATP_7-100.3-000-WEB-1.pdf.
