HQ-29, this time really reaches the atmosphere?
China's new high-altitude interception system, HQ-29, has made its debut.
According to the exposed footage, the six-axis transport and launch vehicle of the HQ-29 carries two large missile launch tubes with a diameter of about 1.5 meters. Its appearance is significantly larger than the current service HQ-19.
Analysts believe that this size indicates that the HQ-29 has a higher initial speed and a longer range. Its design positioning has already broken through regional air defense, entering the strategic field of high-altitude and mid-course interception. This marks that China's missile defense capability has moved from terminal defense to the edge of the atmosphere, even higher space. It may become a strategic equipment that combines high-altitude anti-missile and low-orbit satellite strike capabilities.
From existing signs, the HQ-29 is the successor model of the HQ-19, but its position is more advanced.
The HQ-19 currently mainly undertakes high-altitude terminal anti-missile tasks, with an interception height of approximately 200 to 300 kilometers. The HQ-9 series, on the other hand, focuses on low-altitude and tactical defense.
The dual-launch tube configuration and larger diameter of the HQ-29 indicate that its propulsion system has been significantly upgraded.
It is estimated that the operational range of this system could exceed 500 kilometers, with an interception height possibly rising to the low-orbit range of 500 to 700 kilometers. Its mission has expanded beyond intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles, now including low-orbit satellites.
Combined with China's previous successful kinetic anti-satellite test in 2007, it is highly likely that the HQ-29 is a new generation platform integrating both anti-missile and anti-satellite missions.
For regional security, this means that China now has more diverse strategic options, especially when facing high-value satellite networks and long-range strike threats, it will have stronger deterrence power.
In international comparison, the strategic significance of the HQ-29 becomes even more prominent.
The United States currently relies on THAAD and SM-3 to build a multi-layered defense. The SM-3 Block IIA has an interception height of about 700 kilometers, specifically targeting mid-course ballistic missiles and some low-orbit satellites. Russia, on the other hand, relies on the S-500 and PL-19 systems for high-altitude defense.
The dual-launch tube design, missile diameter, and launch vehicle configuration of the HQ-29 have all been compared to the SM-3 and S-500 by the outside world.
Although the specific parameters of the HQ-29 have not been publicly disclosed, based on existing clues, it will fill the gap between the HQ-19 and future strategic-level anti-missile systems.
In short, the HQ-29 is not only an upgrade of China's missile defense system, but also a signal of moving towards space defense, indicating that a new round of competition in high-altitude and space security has begun.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841398854542344/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.