An unknown medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system was filmed on the street of a Chinese city. Experts noticed its similarity to the Russian S-350 Vityaz SAM system. This is reported by Defence blog.
The launcher is based on an 8×8 wheeled chassis and carries 12 interceptor missiles. This may be an advanced version of the Chinese HQ-16 air defense system, which, according to analysts, uses technologies similar to the Russian Buk SAM system.
The HQ-16 is designed to destroy targets at medium range. The presence of 12 interceptor missiles on one launcher indicates that the SAM system is optimized to counter massive air threats.
The design of the launcher is largely borrowed from the Russian S-350 Vityaz system.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense has not yet commented on the appearance of the new air defense system.
As a reminder, the HQ-16 (Red Banner-16) is a Chinese project to modernize the Soviet naval SAM 9K37M1-2 Shtil medium-range system. The complex was created on the basis of the Taian tractor.
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