Hongjian
Posts: 834
Joined: 1/2/2015 Status: offline
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Henri.K's new article on the large mystery missile that was test-launched from the 909-class weapon test ship last year. http://www.eastpendulum.com/asroc-mdcn-nouveau-missile-antiaerien-ou-hq-26#ViewPollResults A few key points: - The mystery missile appears to be about 420mm to 710mm in diameter (body and booster), and 8.4 to 9m in length. - He does not believe that this is a super long range naval anti-air missile, since it was revealed by PLA officers during last year's Zhuhai Airshow that the HQ-9B SAM already has a range of "over 200km", which would imply that the HQ-9B or the following upgrades/blocks will be the basis of the naval long range anti-air missile. (And Zhuhai placards also confirm that the HQ-9B features an active radar seeker - so, China doesnt need another SM-6 equivalent on that front) - It is not a cruise missile, since the 052D's and 055's cruise missiles are actually based on the YJ-18, similiar to the 3M54 Klub land-attack variant. - It is also not likely to be an ASROC, since, so far, the PLAN seems to relegate their Frigates for ASW duty, and leaving their Destroyers primarily for AAW and ASuW. - It is likely related to the HQ-26 development; a designation known since 2000 and reportedly being worked on for 10+ years since then; aiming for a Chinese SM-3. Clues, like the recently held contender for a double-pulse solid-fuel 3rd stage "for a certain missile", won by the 4th Academy of CASC, supports that notion that the mystery missile might be a naval ABM weapon. For comparisson, the SM-3 equally features a dual-pulse 3rd stage, the Mk-136 TSRM.
< Message edited by Hongjian -- 2/17/2017 5:08:34 PM >
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