The Taian HTF5980 is a large
transporter erector launcher
A transporter erector launcher (TEL) is a missile vehicle with an integrated tractor unit that can carry, elevate to firing position and launch one or more missiles.
History
Such vehicles exist for both surface-to-air missiles and surface-to- ...
used exclusively to carry the
DF-41
The Dongfeng-41 (DF-41, CSS-20) () is a fourth-generation Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile operated by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (formerly the Second Artillery Corps). DF-41 is the fourth and ...
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. It is the largest known TEL used by the
People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and the most powerful in terms of carrying capacity.
Description
The Taian HTF5980 is a 16x16 TEL that specialises in carrying superheavy ICBMs like the aforementioned
DF-41
The Dongfeng-41 (DF-41, CSS-20) () is a fourth-generation Chinese solid-fuelled road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile operated by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (formerly the Second Artillery Corps). DF-41 is the fourth and ...
s or sometimes the
DF-31AG.
It is the first eight-axis self-propelled chassis made in China, equipped with a multi-axis steering system to meet the requirements of high manoeuvrability for a ground vehicle of such size.
[
Like most TELs made from Taian, it uses an integral welded structure frame, an oil-gas spring independent suspension and a multi-axle group steering and drives in order to achieve a high enough mobility to suit the PLARF.][
One key difference of the HTF5980 in comparison to its smaller cousin, the ]HTF5680A1
The Taian HTF5680A1 is a large transporter erector launcher with a 12x12 configuration. The vehicle comes in two primary variants. The conventional HTF5680 is a 12x12 flatbed vehicle for transport purposes. However, the most common and famous v ...
, is the introduction of a split-cab design. This was in order to accommodate the much larger missile canister of the DF-41 when at rest.
Variants
The HTF5980 itself comes in two varieties, the HTF5980A and HTF5980B, which are the launch vehicles and transport vehicles respectively.
See also
* TAS5380
The TAIAN TA580/TAS5380 is a 20-ton 8x8 special heavy duty truck developed and built by Taian Special Vehicle Manufactory and used by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China as a transport/Transporter erector launcher.
Des ...
* WS2400
The WS2400 is a 8x8 special heavy-duty truck developed and built by Wanshan Special Vehicle and used by the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China as a transporter erector launcher (TEL) platform and is a reverse engineered ve ...
* MAZ-7310
The MAZ-543/MAZ-7310 "Uragan" (russian: МАЗ-543/МАЗ-7310 "Ураган"/Hurricane) is a Soviet/Belarusian 8×8 artillery truck designed and developed by MAZ (Minsk Automobile Plant), in what is now Belarus.
MAZ-543
Designed in the 1960s, ...
* HEMTT
The Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) is an eight-wheel drive, diesel-powered, tactical truck. The M977 HEMTT first entered service in 1982 with the United States Army as a replacement for the M520 Goer, and since that date has re ...
* WS2600
The WS2600 is a 22.5 ton 10x8 and 10x10 transporter erector launcher used by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force of the People's Republic of China. It is, along with the smaller WS2500, one of the principal mobility platforms in mounting C ...
* WS21200
The WS21200 is a large transporter erector launcher built and developed in the People's Republic of China. Like the WS51200, the WS21200 is not actually used by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force, instead, the primary customer is Pakista ...
* WS51200
The WS51200 is an extremely large and heavy transporter erector launcher built by Wanshan Special Vehicle in China. The WS51200 is one of the largest in the WS family of transport trucks and TELs. The size of the WS51200 allows it to carry inter ...
References
{{Chinese Missiles
Military trucks of China
Military vehicles of the People's Republic of China