Chinese Defence Today - HJ-9 Anti-Tank Guided Missile

The HongJian-9 (HJ-9) is the heavyweight, vehicle-mounted, laser command guidance anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system introduced for service in the PLA in the late 1990s. It is designed to engage and destroy main battle tanks (MBT) or other armoured targets in day/night, all-weather condition. The missile may have been based on the Israeli technology but this cannot be confirmed. Improved variants include the millimetre wave guidance variant HJ-9A and the laser beam-riding guidance variant HJ-9B.

Following the successful development of the manportable HJ-8 ATGM, China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO) began to develop a more advanced ATGM with longer range and better armour penetration capability in the late 1980s. The resulted HJ-9 ATGM entered service in the late 1990s and was first revealed in the military parade held in Beijing to mark the 50th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on 1 October 1999. The missile was claimed to have a armour penetration capability of 1,200mm RHA, which means the missile could penetrate the front armour of most modern main battle tanks (MBT) in current service.

The HJ-9 is fired from a tube launcher with a maximum range of 5,000m, and can operate in all weather conditions, day and night, with high accuracy and a lethal punch. The HJ-9 missile is almost identical in appearance to the Israeli TAAS manportable anti-tank system (MAPATS), causing speculation about the link between the two missiles. However, it cannot be confirmed whether the HJ-9 has any element of the MAPATS technology. Like the MAPATS, the HJ-9 also uses the laser command guidance.

Compared to the HJ-8, the HJ-9 is much heavier and therefore is not suitable for manportable operations. The missile in service with the PLA is carried on a 4X4 WZ550 armoured personnel carrier (APC) vehicle. Another variant has a single-tube launcher mounted on the 4X4 Nanjing NJ2046 high-mobility truck. NORINCO claimed that the missile could also be launched from helicopters.

The launcher fires the HJ-9 missile with tandem shaped high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads to defeat MBTs fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA). It might also be able to be fitted with high explosive or thermal effect warheads for use against non-armoured point targets, bunkers or fortifications. The missile's diameter is 152mm. Armour penetration for the HEAT warhead is said to be 1,200mm, or over 320mm at 68 degree. The maximum fire range is 5km. The missile has an extended probe on its head for greater standoff and penetration.

WZ550 ATGM CARRIER

The WZ550 APC-mounted HJ-9 system is seen in service with the artillery regiments organic to armoured divisions. The vehicle has an integrated weapon station containing an observation/fire-control unit and four tube missile launchers. When the vehicle is in travelling mode, the station can be retracted back to inside the troop compartment. There are four ready-to-launch missiles on the weapon station and eight spare missiles carried inside the vehicle. The station has an elevation from +10 to -10 degrees with +/-200 degree traverse.

The vehicle has a crew of three (driver, commander, and weapon operator). The fully automated weapon station is controlled by an operator inside the vehicle. The vehicle has a combat weight of 13.75t, and is powered by a 320hp turbo-charged diesel. The maximum road speed is 95km/h.

The HJ-9 uses a semi-automatic laser command guidance. The weapon operator search and locate the target using a periscope optical sight (7km range) in day light, or a thermal imager at night or in bad weather conditions. Once the missile is launched, the operator continues aiming its sight at the target. The TV ganiometer measures the angle deviation between the missile and the line of sight. The correction command is sent to the missile via the laser transmission unit (5.5km range). During the flight of the HJ-9 missile, the operator only needs to keep the sight's cross-hair on the target, and the system automatically transmits the laser command signal to the missile until it hits the target.

NORINCO has also introduced the improved HJ-9A with a more advanced millimetre wave guidance system. The correction command is sent to the missile via a millimetre wave transmission unit with longer range and better resistance to enemy jamming.

A laser-beam riding variant known as HJ-9B is also under development.

Propulsion: Two solid rocket motors, one ejection, one cruise
Range: 5,000m
Depth of penetration (static): 1,200mm
Rate of fire: 2rds per minute
Missile body length: N/A
Missile body diameter: 152mm
Launch weight: 37kg
Field of fire: Elevation -10°~+10°; Traverse +/-200°