HongJian 73 Anti-Tank Guided Missile

China’s effort to develop a wire-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) can be traced back to the late 1950s, but little progress was made until the PLA obtained some examples of the Soviet 9M14M (NATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger) in 1971. Reverse-engineering of the 9M14M began in 1973. The original Soviet-designed guidance was replaced by a Chinese indigenous design, which has increased the single hit probability of the missile to over 70%. The Chinese version of the AT-3, designated HongJian 73, entered service with the PLA in 1979.

The HongJian 73 is s small, versatile missile system that can be fired from man-pack launchers or on vehicles. The man-portable version is normally found in the anti-tank element of the artillery units organic to infantry divisions and regiments. The basic combat unit of the HongJian 73 is an anti-rank missile platoon, which has two man-packed missile firing teams (two missiles each). In each three-man team, the gunner carries a suitcase containing the control box, and two assistant gunners each carry one missile in a suitcase.

The vehicle-mounted version of the HongJian 73 is carried by Type 85 and Type 86 IFV, ZBD2000 amphibious IFV, and ZLC2000 airborne IFV. A dedicated HongJian 73 ATGM carrier WZ504 with four launchers mounted on a weapon station with guidance system was developed for the export market, but it did not enter production due to lack of buyer.

The HongJian 73 ATGM is generally regarded as obsolete using today’s standard. However, through steadily upgrading the missile with new technologies, the weapon system provides a low-cost, yet effective means for engaging and destroying ‘soft’ targets such as lightly/non-armoured vehicles, bunkers, and fortifications. Its lightweight comparing to the HJ-8 and HJ-9 system makes it particularly suitable for the light infantry and airborne troops. Meanwhile there is a large number of the missile still in the operational service with the PLA.

Although the missile leaves the launcher armed and can detonate and kill at very short range, The HongJian 73 can be captured by the gunner only at ranges of 500~800m. Under combat conditions, however, most gunners probably will be able to engage targets successfully only between 1,000~3,000m. The missile has a very long flight time to the target (12.5 seconds to 1,500m; 25 seconds to 3,000m), and evasive action is effective against it, especially at long ranges. Although a HongJian 73 launching gives off a cloud of grey smoke and a loud roar, this signature is difficult to detect on the battlefield. The wire-guided missile is invulnerable to electronic countermeasures and has a very small percentage of malfunctions.

One missile can be set up, checked out, and fired within five minutes (12 to 15 minutes for all four missiles). Using a tour-position selector switch on the control box, each gunner can fire up to four missiles consecutively. Both gunners can remotely fire missiles from positions up to 15m from the launchers. For targets at less than 1,000m, the missile can be guided by eye; for longer ranges, the 8X magnifying periscope sight must be used.

HongJian 73

Basic variant which is virtually a copy of the Russian 9M14M Malutka (AT-3 Sagger) with a Chinese indigenous guidance.

HongJian 73B

The HongJian 73B is fitted with semi-automatic command line of sight (SACLOS) guidance originally developed for the HJ-8. The guidance panel can be located up to 15m from the launcher, and can control up to four launchers. If a target is less than 1,000m from launcher, the operator can joystick the missile to target without using optics. Because the module is small and can be shifted, elevation and field of view are operationally unlimited. Improved versions can be used on older launchers, but in the MCLOS mode.

HongJian 73C

The HongJian 73C has totally given up the manual stick control mode. Aiming at the target through X12 sight of TV goniometry, the firer presses the firing trigger and keeps the cross hairs of the sight on the target. The rest is done by the system itself, which automatically guides the missile to fly along the line of sight until it hits the target and an enhanced warhead enables its destruction. The missile also has an extended probe on its head to increase the armour penetration capability against the explosive reactive armour (ERA)

Specifications

Missile Length: 868mm
Missile Calibre: 120mm
Launch Weight: 11.3kg
Max Range: 3,000m
Min Range: 500m
Flight Speed: 120m/s
Armour Penetration: >500mm
Rate of Fire: 2 rounds/minute
Combat Preparation Time: 1 min 40 sec
Launcher Weight: 32kg

Last update: 30 April 2007