HQ-17A

   The HQ-17A is a new China's short-range air defense system. It evolved from the HQ-17 (China's reverse-engineered and improved version of the Russian Tor). China imported a total of 35 Tor M1 systems from Russia and offered to co-produce this air defense system in China. However Russia reportedly refused. Eventually China reverse-engineered the Tor M1 and developed its indigenous version - the HQ-17. It featured some improvements, including a modern radar. The HQ-17A is a further development of the HQ-17. This could be a good indication of how self-sufficient and advanced is China's weapon industry. Pre-production version of the HQ-17A, was first publicly revealed in 2018 in the form of FM-2000 air defense missile system. Operational HQ-17A systems were first publicly revealed in 2019 during a military parade.

   The HQ-17A uses a new wheeled chassis instead of tracked. In terms of capabilities it is broadly similar to the Russian Tor M2 system. Overall it resembles versions of the Tor, based on a Belarusian MZKT-6922 high mobility wheeled chassis. Some components of the HQ-17A, such as the radar, might be actually more advanced than those of the Russian Tor.

   The HQ-17A can engage all kinds of modern air targets, including aircraft, helicopter, UAVs, cruise missiles and precision guided munitions. Basically it is intended to destroy targets that long- and medium- range air defense systems failed to hit. The HQ-17A was designed to protect mechanized formations. Though it can be also used to protect important stationary assets, such as military bases, airfields, ports, supply depots, command centers and so on. For this role an expensive tracked chassis was not required.

   The HQ-17A launcher vehicle carries both radars and missiles. A total of 16 missiles. Missiles are launched vertically. Maximum range of fire is around 15 km. Missiles can reach their targets at an altitude of up to 10 km. Hit probability of a single missile against aircraft is up to around 45-80%.

   The HQ-17A uses wheeled chassis with all-wheel drive configuration. It seems that this chassis is produced by Dongfeng motor corporation. Vehicle has good cross-country mobility and can travel over difficult terrain. A central tyre pressure system is fitted as standard. The cab is lightly armored and provides some degree of protection against small arms fire and shell splinters.

   A battery of the launcher vehicles is also supported by other associated vehicles, such as command post vehicle and resupply vehicles. Two types of resupply vehicles were observed. One of the is based on a FAW MV3 truck chassis with 6x6 configuration. Another is based on a new Shaanxi SX2306 heavy high mobility truck chassis with 8x8 configuration. Both reloading vehicles are fitted with cranes and carriey reload missiles.

Variants

   FM-2000 is an export version of the HQ-17A. It was first publicly revealed in 2018. It uses a Dongfeng high mobility chassis with 6x6 configuration.