HQ-16
Chinese medium-range surface-to-air missile
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) 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). It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.
01Development
Development began in 2005, and was reportedly assisted by the Almaz-Antey Corporation. It was initially developed as a naval system. In late-2011, China reported the "co-development between Russia and China" of the missile was complete.
The HQ-16B was developed by late-2011.
A ground battery consists of a command post, two multifunction radars, and four to six launchers. Each launcher has six missiles.
The HQ-16 is effective in intercepting tactical ballistic missiles.
02Operational history
The platform for the HHQ-16, the Type 054A frigate, entered service in 2008. The HQ-16A entered service in 2011.
The HQ-16A entered Chinese service in 2011.
Pakistan entered negotiations to purchase the missile in 2015. The LY-80s entered service with the Pakistan Army in March 2017. HQ-16s were integrated into a networked air defense system and deployed during the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
03Variants
- HQ-16A
- Original land-based variant with a range of 40 kilometres (25 mi).
- HHQ-16
- Naval variant, reportedly a domestic-produced variant of the 9M317ME missile.
- HQ-16B
- Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).
- HQ-16C
- Improved variant with slant range exceeding 70 kilometres (43 mi).
- HHQ-16C
- Improved extended-range naval variant.
- LY-80
- Export variant.
- LY-80N
- Export naval variant.
- HQ-16FE
- Improved variant with range up to 160 kilometres (99 mi).
04Operators
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force, 250 HQ-16A & HQ-16B
- People's Liberation Army Navy, HHQ-16
- Pakistan Army, LY-80
- Pakistan Navy, LY-80N
- Pakistan Air Force, HQ-16FE
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “HQ-16”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- HQ-16A Surface-to-air missiles 20170919.jpg by Tyg728, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HQ-16 VLS SAM Launchers.jpg by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Sam Shavers, Public domain
- HQ-16 missile and 90mm precision-guided rocket.jpg by Benlisquare, CC BY-SA 4.0
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