PL-9D Short-Range Surface-to-Air Missile |
Key Information
- Chinese Name: PiLi-9D (PL-9D)
- Contractor: China Academy of Air-to-Air Missile
- Service Status: PLA Ground Force, PLA Navy
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Summary
The PL-9 is the surface-to-air variant of the PL-9 infrared-homing short-range air-to-air missile (AAM). The PL-9D tactical low-altitude surface-to-air missile (SAM) was first revealed during the 1989 Paris Air Show. The launch unit is available in both towed and self-propelled arrangement. The self-propelled version has an launch complex consisting four-rail launcher and the associated target acquisition and radar and electro-optical director mounted on a 6X6 WZ551 armoured personnel carrier (APC). The towed version has a four-rail launcher mounted on a four-wheel carriage. The launch unit is supported by a range of truck-mounted ground equipment for maintenance and missile testing.
The PL-9C is fitted with a cryogenic liquid nitrogen gas-cooled IR seeker capable of +/-40 degree off boresight angles. Flight control is by long span pointed delta fins at the front of the missile with Sidewinder-type slipstream driven rollerons on the aft tail fin surfaces to prevent roll and so enhance the operation of the guidance system. The missile has a maximum effective range of 15km and an altitude limit of 4.5km. The single-shot hit probability for a single missile launch at an approaching target is 80%.
DK-9 (Type 390) SAM/AAA Air Defence System
As the threats of modern attack aircraft and helicopters grow, conventional anti-aircraft artillery weapons are no longer capable of providing the air defence cover the ground forces need in battlefield. The SAM system, though much more capable, are too expensive to be deployed in vast quantities to cover every corner. One solution to this problem is to combine the two systems to form an integrated air defence system. In a typical engagement the SAM would be used to engage targets at longer range, while the AAA is used to engage targets at short range and lower altitude. Additionally, by sharing the same target search radar and fire control system, the users do not have to deploy two separate systems, which would reduce the unit cost of the system and simplify the crew training.
The PLA began to deploy the SAM systems and AAA weapons in a combined unit to provide improved air defence capability in the mid-1980s. Initially this was merely a mixture of conventional AAA batteries and shoulder launched missiles (MANPADS), but this later has developed into a more coordinated manner involving target information and fire control data sharing. The DK-9 (DiKong-9, also known as Type 390) brigade (regiment)-level combined AAA/SAM air defence system that saw limited service with the PLA ground forces in the 1990s was a direct result of this development trend.
A typical DK-9 battalion includes:
Battalion |
Company X 3 |
Battalion C3I post X 1
IBIS searching radar X 1
Electro-optical director X 1 |
Company command post X 1
Type 702 fire-control unit X 1
SAM launcher (4 missiles) X 1
Twin-35mm/37mm AAA X 2 |
Company command post X 1
Type 702 fire-control unit X 1
SAM launcher (4 missiles) X 1
Twin-35mm/37mm AAA X 2 |
Company command post X 1
Type 702 fire-control unit X 1
SAM launcher (4 missiles) X 1
Twin-35mm/37mm AAA X 2 |
A complete DK-9 system includes up to 8 battalions, with 48 AAA guns and 24 SAM launchers to cover an air space of 3,000 square kilometres and engage 48 airborne targets simultaneously.
The system has two AAA options: the twin-35mm Type 90 and the twin-37mm JP-113, both of which are automatic systems that can operate in either radar, optical tracker or manual mode. The PJ-113 is the land-based variant of the shipborne Type 76A twin-37mm AAA, which has been fitted on all Chinese indigenous surface warships built in the 1990s. The system has a cyclic rate of fire of 400 rounds/minute each barrel, with an effective range of 5,400m (maximum 9,400m) and effective altitude 4,000m (maximum 4,700m). The Type 90 is modelled after the Oerlikon 35mm gun design of the Skyguard AAA system. The Type 90 has a cyclic rate of fire of 500 rounds/minute per barrel, and an effective range of 3,200m.
The fire-control system of the DK-9 includes the brigade or regiment command, control, communications and intelligence (C3I) system; IBIS ultra-low-altitude searching radar, the electro-optical director, and the Type 702 fire-control unit. The IBIS searching radar has a detection range of 18km and a detection altitude of 6km. The electro-optical surveillance system has a detection rage of 10km. Other systems include friend-and-foe identifiers, data transmission systems, and fire control computers.
Specifications
- Missile dimensions: Length 2.99m;
Diameter 0.167m;
Wingspan 0.81m
- Launch weight: 120kg
- Propulsion: Single-stage solid propellant rocket motor
- Operating altitude: Minimum 10m; Maximum 4,500m
- Operating Range: Minimum 1,000m; Maximum 15,000m
- Maximum speed: Mach 2
- Guidance: all-aspects passive infrared seeker, with proportional navigation
- Warhead: 11.8kg HE
- System reaction time: 10 seconds
- Single-shot hit probability: 80%
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Last updated: 25 October 2008
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