IPFS News Link • China
THE SOUTH CHINA SEA ARSENAL: THESE ARE THE CHINESE WEAPONS...
• By Jeffrey Lin and P.W. SingerThe People's Liberation Army Navy has made waves across the South China Sea by rotating heavy missile launchers to the Paracel Islands, also disputed by Taiwan and Vietnam. In addition to YJ-62 anti-ship missiles, recent television footage shows PLAN air defense units engaged in live fire exercise on the islands, a clear counterpoint to recent US naval voyages and flights inside those disputed waters. While China has deployed anti-aircraft guns to the Paracels in the past, the deployment, even if temporary, of an integrated, multi-layer air defense network and anti-ship missiles on those islands is a quantum leap in China's ability to control the air and sea-space outside of China proper.
The weapons deployed notably include like the HQ-9 surface to air missile (SAM). The HQ-9 is a long range SAM, whose nearly 30km flight altitude and 200km range makes it the peer of the U.S. Patriot and Russian S-300 SAMs. In particular, the HQ-9 uses an AESA HT-233 radar for searching and tracking enemy aircraft, including enemy stealth fighters and drones. In wartime, the HQ-9 would use its long-range missiles and powerful radar to strike down enemy aircraft before they get in range to drop bombs, as well as destroying enemy missiles at range.