China's air defense system. Part 2
At the end of the 80s, after a long political and ideological confrontation, which sometimes turned into local armed clashes, relations between the USSR and the PRC normalized. The first major project in the framework of military-technical cooperation between the two countries was the delivery of Su-27SK fighters to China.
27 June 1992, the first batch of 8 Su-27SK and 4 Su-27UBK entered the 9 regiment 3 of the PLA Air Force division. In November, 12 single-seat cars also arrived there.
In the photo: Su-27SK "19-blue" - the number on its air intake means that this aircraft, produced by KNAAPO, is an 20 38 series aircraft.
In addition to the direct delivery of ready-made combat aircraft to the People's Republic of China, an agreement was signed with the Soviet side on the transfer of technical documentation and assistance in establishing licensed production.
In the 1996 year, after lengthy negotiations between the Sukhoi Company and Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), a contract for the joint production of 200 Su-27SK under the designation J-11 in the amount of 2,5 billion US dollars was signed. Under the terms of the contract, the J-11 was assembled at a factory in Shenyang from Russian components.
Assembled under the 1996 license contract of the year, the J-11 fighter flew for the first time in the 1998 year. The first licensed vehicles entered the 6 regiment of the second division of the PLA Air Force, where they were used along with the Su-27SK from Russia.
A total of 105 licensed J-11 fighter jets were assembled in the PRC. Chinese avionics were installed on a significant part of the aircraft. By collecting 105 J-11 aircraft, the Chinese abandoned the option for another 95 machines, citing the alleged "low combat characteristics" of Soviet fighters. In December, 2003 began the second phase of the “11 project” - the first Chinese “own” J-27B created by the Chinese on the basis of the Su-11SK took off.
As the fighter aviation units became saturated with the Su-27SK and J-11B aircraft, the hopelessly outdated J-6 fighter jets, as well as early modifications of the J-8 interceptor, were being withdrawn from service. J-7 aircraft continue to be used for the time being, but mainly for training purposes or on secondary routes.
In an effort to get rid of technological dependence on Russia, the Chinese industry developed a number of elements and systems that made it possible to assemble fighters without Russian spare parts and adapt them to the use of local aviation weapons.
The technologies and technical documentation received from the USSR and Russia made it possible to make a qualitative leap in the Chinese aviation industry, bringing it to a new level of development. In a short period of time, China has managed to catch up on the 30-year lag in this area. Currently, despite the difficulties in creating modern aircraft engines with the required level of reliability, the PRC has the ability to create all types of combat aircraft, including 5-generation fighter jets.
It should be added here that, in addition to the production of new fighters, scientific and technical research in the aviation field, considerable resources are being spent in the PRC to develop the airfield network. On the territory of China, a large number of hard-surface airfields have been built, capable, in case of need, of accepting and operating all types of aircraft in service.
Approximately 30% of these aerodromes are currently either not being operated at all or are being operated with a minimum load. But all of them are maintained in working condition, the presence of such reserve serviceable runways and the prepared aerodrome infrastructure allows, if necessary, to quickly disperse combat aircraft, taking it out from under impact. In terms of the number of operational airfields with hard-surfaced runways, China is far superior to Russia.
In addition to modern combat aircraft, at the beginning of the 90's PLA there was an acute need for anti-aircraft complexes capable of replacing the outdated counterparts of the Soviet C-75 air defense system.
Beijing’s negotiations with Moscow on the purchase of modern air defense systems began back in 1991. After a public display at the Moscow Airshow at 1992, the C-300P-based air defense system, in 1993, deliveries of these complexes to the PRC began. 4 of the C-XNUMPPMU Division worth 300 million were ordered. Prior to the start of deliveries, several dozen Chinese officers and civilian specialists were trained in Russia.
In 1993, 32 trailed 5P85T launchers were delivered with a KrAZ-265В trailer that had 4 TPK with 5В55У SAM and 4-8 spare missiles. In 1994, 120 additional missiles were delivered from Russia for conducting training and firing practice. The complex is designed to hit 6 air targets simultaneously at a distance of up to 75 km with two missiles aimed at each target.
The S-XNUMPPMU SAM system with its capabilities made a great impression on the Chinese specialists, before this there was nothing like that in the PRC. Anti-aircraft divisions were located to cover the major administrative, industrial and military facilities.
In 1994, another contract was signed for the purchase of 8 divisions of improved C-300PMU1 worth 400 million dollars. The agreement included the delivery of 32 5CE / DE 85 launchers on the MAZ-4М 543-axle and 196 48Н6Е missiles to them. Advanced missiles have a semi-active tracking through-rocket radar guidance system with a range of fire increased to 150 km. Half of the contract was paid for by barter deals for the purchase of Chinese consumer goods, the other half - in foreign currency.
An additional contract worth 2001 million, signed by 400, provided for the purchase of another 8 C-300PMU-1 divisions with 32 PU and 198 48Н6Е missiles. The acquired complexes from this party were deployed in the Taiwan Strait area and around Beijing.
In 2003, China expressed its intention to order improved C-300PMU2 Favorit, which were first proposed by Russia on the international market. weapons in 2001 year. The order included 64 PU 5P85EX2 / DE2 and 256 ZUR 48H6X2. First divisions delivered to customer in 2007 year. An improved complex can fire 6 air targets simultaneously at a distance of up to 200 km and an altitude of up to 27 km. With the adoption of these complexes, China for the first time received limited opportunities for intercepting ballistic missiles at a distance of up to 40 km.
According to Russian media reports, 4 of the C-300PMU Division, 8 of the C-300PMU1 and 12 Divisions of the C-300PMU2 Divisions has been delivered to China. In addition, each divisional kit includes 6 launchers. As a result, it turns out that China acquired the 24 division C-300PMU / PMU1 / PMU2 with 144 launchers.
Having gained operating experience with the C-300P, the Chinese wanted to establish licensed production of these complexes in their possession. However, the Russian leadership, already having experience of “joint production” of Su-27 fighters and fearing the leakage of “critical technologies”, did not agree to this, and the development of the new air defense system in the PRC was carried out on its own.
Nevertheless, in the Chinese air defense complex HQ-9 (HongQi-9 “Red flag - 9”), the features of the same C-300П are clearly visible. A number of design features and technical solutions of this complex were largely borrowed by Chinese engineers during the design of HQ-9. However, it is wrong to assume that this complex is a clone of the Russian C-300P.
SAM HQ-9 uses another rocket, different geometric dimensions, to control the fire using a radar with a phased antenna array (HEADLIGHT) CJ-202. PU is located on the chassis of a four-axle all-terrain vehicle made in China.
The Chinese complex has a maximum range of about 125 km, the height of the target 18000 m, the minimum height 25 m, the range of ballistic targets from 7 to 25 km at altitudes from 2000 to 15000 m.
The brigade consists of six battalions, each of which is equipped with its own command vehicle and radar fire control. The battalion is equipped with 8 PU, the number of missiles ready to launch is 32.
The export version of this air defense system, FD-2000, won the Turkish tender, winning the competition from the American Patriot system, the Russian C-400 and the European Aster. But under US pressure, the results of the competition were annulled.
Currently in production is a modernized version of the complex, designated HQ-9A. HQ-9A is distinguished by increased combat performance and efficiency, especially in terms of anti-missile capabilities achieved through improved electronic equipment and software.
In the media, there were reports of the creation and adoption of the HQ-15 air defense system in the PRC, which allegedly is a clone of the C-300PMU-1. But reliable data on this anti-aircraft complex could not be found.
Back in 1991, at Le Bourget, the HQ-12 medium-range air defense system was demonstrated for the first time. The development of the complex began in the beginning of the 80-s of the last century as a replacement for the outdated HQ-2 air defense system.
However, the refinement of his greatly delayed. Only in 2009, the complex was publicly shown, several HQ-12 batteries participated in a military parade dedicated to the 60 anniversary of the PRC. At the moment, about ten divisions of this type of air defense system are deployed.
It seems that the most successful was the new Chinese medium-range air defense system - HQ-16. It is a "conglomerate" of advanced technical solutions borrowed from Russian C-300P and Buk-M2. In contrast to the "Buk", in the Chinese air defense system used "hot - vertical" start.
The HQ-16 is equipped with 328 kg anti-aircraft missiles, the firing range is 40 km. Self-propelled PU is equipped with 4-6 missiles in transport and launch containers. The complex's radar is capable of detecting air targets at a distance of 150 km. Elements of the air defense missile system are placed on six-axle off-road vehicles.
Currently, several divisions of this complex are located in positions in the southwestern part of the PRC.
The complex is capable of striking military, tactical and strategic aircraft, helicopter gunships, cruise missiles and remotely piloted aircraft. Provides an effective reflection of the massed raids of modern air attack in the conditions of intensive electronic suppression. He is able to perform a combat mission in various weather conditions. HQ-16 is a multichannel complex. Its fire weapons can fire up to six targets simultaneously, with up to four missiles aimed at each of them from one launcher. The target attack zone is circular in azimuth.
The anti-aircraft missile forces of the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China are armed with 110 — 120 anti-aircraft missile systems (divisions), for a total of about 700 PU. By this indicator, China is second only to our country (around 1500 PU). Moreover, the share of modern air defense systems in the PLA is constantly increasing.
According to media reports, the International Aerospace Salon, held in Zhuhai, received a principle consent to sell the latest Russian C-400 air defense systems to the PRC.
The parties are currently discussing the possibility of supplying China with two to four C-400 divisions, each of which consists of eight launchers. In this case, the customer insists on obtaining full information about the tactical and technical characteristics of the anti-aircraft complex. Thanks to the acquisition of C-400, China will be able to control the airspace not only over its territory, but also over Taiwan and the Japanese islands of Senkaku.
Snapshot Google Earth: the layout of the air defense system (colored squares and triangles) and radar (blue diamonds) along the coast of China
Most Chinese long-range and medium-range air defense systems are deployed along the coast of the country. It is in this area is the main part of the enterprises giving 70% of the country's GDP.
Great attention in the PRC is also paid to the development and improvement of means of controlling the air situation. Outdated stations, which are clones of the Soviet radar model 50-s, are actively being replaced by new models.
Perhaps the largest of the new stations of the meter range is the broadband two-coordinate early warning radar - JY-27.
According to the developers, this radar is capable of detecting subtle airplanes at a long distance (the detection range of air targets is 500 km).
Type 120 low-altitude target detection radar is a further development of the JY-29 / LSS-1 2D capable of simultaneously tracking 72 targets at a distance of 200 km. In China, 120 deployed such radars, including as part of the HQ-9, HQ-12 and HQ-16 SAMs.
Several new types of Chinese radar stations were demonstrated at the Zhuhai International Aerospace Show, at China Airshow - 2014.
In addition to ground-based radars, the People's Republic of China is actively engaged in the creation of DRLO aircraft. This is due to the fact that most modern Chinese fighters are deployed on bases along the sea coast. The depth of the fighter cover from the “alert on the airfield” position is of the order of 150-250 km provided that air targets are detected at the turn to 500 km. Considering that in most cases, air defense radars provide detection at lines up to 250-300 km and comparing this value with the depth of impact of air attack weapons, it becomes clear that PLA naval fighter aircraft are not able to provide effective air defense from the position on the airfield. Airborne missiles, patrolling the coast over neutral waters, are able to push the line of detection of air targets.
In the middle of 90-x in China, an attempt was made to create an ARLO aircraft with the involvement of foreign developers. As a result of negotiations held in Russia, Israel and the People’s Republic of China in 1997, a contract was concluded for the joint development, construction, and subsequent delivery of airborne early warning and control systems to China. It was assumed that the Russian TANTK them. Gm Beriev will create on the basis of the serial A-50 aircraft for installation on it of an Israeli-made radio engineering complex with the EL / M-205 “Falcon” radar (PHALCON). The basis of the complex was to be developed by the Israeli company Elta (Elta) multifunctional pulse-Doppler radar EL / M-205. It consists of three active phased antenna arrays, forming a triangle and located above the fuselage in a fixed mushroom fairing with a diameter of 11,5 m (more than the E-3 and A-50).
But these plans did not come true because of the most powerful pressure of the United States. In the summer of 2000, Israel had to first suspend the execution of the contract, and subsequently officially notify the Chinese authorities of its refusal to participate further in the project.
After the withdrawal from the Israeli program, the PRC leadership decided to continue work on the program independently, equipping the converted aircraft from Russia with a radio engineering complex with AFAR, means of communication and transmission of nationally developed data. Since China did not have any other suitable for the role of the carrier of the DRLO radio engineering complex, it was decided to build the subsequent production radar patrol aircraft on the basis of a part of the Il-90MD transport set in China for the 76-s.
At the end of 2007, four serial DRLO KJ-2000 aircraft were officially put into service. Reliable data on the characteristics of the radio complex in open sources is not available. It is known that the flight crew of the KJ-2000 consists of five people and 10-15 operators. The aircraft can patrol at altitudes of 5-10 km. The maximum flight distance is 5000 km, the flight duration is 7 h 40 min.
The adoption of the KJ-2000 aircraft undoubtedly made it possible to significantly increase the capabilities of the PLA Air Force for detecting air targets, including low-flying and subtle.
But one detachment of DRLO planes, consisting of five (including the prototype) KJ-2000, is clearly not enough for China. Therefore, the development of another “flying radar” was started on the basis of the Y-8 F-200 military transport aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with a radar similar to the Swedish Ericsson Erieye AESA, with a target detection range from 300 to 450 km.
The first serial KJ-200 took off 14 on January 2005 of the year. According to foreign experts, at least six aircraft are currently in service.
In the PRC, the creation of new modifications of DRLO planes with higher radar characteristics continues. The Chinese industry in the field of aviation radar has made a breakthrough from the radar with mechanical scanning to systems with active phased antenna array. Specialists of CETC Corporation have created a three-coordinate early warning radar with AFAR, i.e. radar providing electronic scanning in height and azimuth.
In the middle of 2014, there were reports of the adoption of a new version of the "medium aircraft" of AWACS with the KJ-500 index based on the Y-8F-400 transporter. Unlike the KJ-200 version with a log-like radar, the new aircraft has a circular radar antenna on the mast.
At present, there are about a dozen of DRLO airplanes in the People's Republic of China, 2-3 new aircraft of such designation are built annually.
China pays great attention to the creation and improvement of modern fighters, ground-based air defense systems, detection stations and automated control systems. According to materials published by the US Department of Defense, the PRC is currently working on a universal integrated national air defense system, the creation of which is planned to be fully completed by 2020.
A great achievement of the Chinese electronics industry is the ability to develop and produce independently almost all types of radars, controls and guidance. In the on-board data processing systems of the air defense systems and fighters of national production, computers and software developed and manufactured in China are used, which increases information security and guarantees the operability of equipment “in a special period”.
Based on:
http://missilethreat.com
http://www.ausairpower.net
http://www.jdunman.com
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