The HJ-9, HongJian-9 (), military designation AFT-9, is an advanced, third-generation, man-portable or vehicle-mounted
anti-tank missile
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...
system deployed by the
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF; ) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army and the largest and oldest branch of the entire Chinese armed forces. The PLAGF can trace its lineage from 1927 as the Chine ...
.
History and development
The development of HJ-9 commenced in the early 1980s, with the development finished in the late 1990s. The weapon was officially unveiled to the public on a military parade in 1999.
The missile was developed by
China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), and one of the chief designers was Yang Chunming (杨春铭). It is externally similar in appearance to the Israeli
MAPATS (man-portable anti-tank system) and South African
ZT3 Ingwe
The ZT3 Ingwe (Leopard) is a modern South African multi-role laser beam riding anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) manufactured by Denel Dynamics (formerly Kentron).
Design and development
The ZT3 and its launch system were developed under the co ...
anti-tank missile, however, no evidence is found between their potential technological link.
Design
The HJ-9 has a maximum range of , and a minimum range of , guided by
semi-automatic command to line of sight
Semi-automatic command to line of sight (SACLOS) is a method of missile command guidance. In SACLOS, the operator has to continually point a sighting device at the target while the missile is in flight. Electronics in the sighting device and/or th ...
laser
beam riding. Claimed armor penetration is 1,200mm, which is greater than the
HJ-8
The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 and Baktar Shikan (Pakistani version) () is a second generation tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system which was originally deployed by China's People's Liberation Army since the late 1980s.
...
. The missile may be fitted with high-explosive or thermal effect warheads against non-armored point targets, bunkers, and fortifications. Like the HJ-8, the HJ-9 utilizes a disposable container/launching tube, but the one for HJ-9 is heavier, weighing due to HJ-9's large diameter of . The missile is compatible with various thermal imaging sights and can be mounted on the
AFT-9 Missile Carrier.
In 2005, Norinco revealed HJ-9A in various public events. The HJ-9A was in service with the Chinese armed forces as of 2005. Unlike HJ-9, the newer system used semi-active
millimeter wave
Extremely high frequency (EHF) is the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) designation for the band of radio frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum from 30 to 300 gigahertz (GHz). It lies between the super high frequency band and the ...
radar guidance. The HJ-9A launcher was mostly observed being mounted on a tripod with an integrated radar system and was demonstrated by Norinco on a
NJ2046 utility vehicle.
The HJ-9A can also be mounted on trucks, armored personnel carriers, and other light utility vehicles.
Norinco also revealed a further-developed version of the HJ-9A with laser guidance, designated HJ-9B.
Operators
*
**
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF; ) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army and the largest and oldest branch of the entire Chinese armed forces. The PLAGF can trace its lineage from 1927 as the Chine ...
— 450
AFT-9 Missile Carrier estimated in service as of 2020.
See also
*
Anti-tank guided missile
An anti-tank guided missile (ATGM), anti-tank missile, anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily armored military vehicles. ATGMs range in size from shoulder ...
;Related development
*
HJ-8
The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 and Baktar Shikan (Pakistani version) () is a second generation tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system which was originally deployed by China's People's Liberation Army since the late 1980s.
...
- wire-guided anti-tank missile system
*
HJ-10
HJ-10 (or "Red Arrow 10") is a Chinese ground-launched anti-tank missile developed by Norinco. It has a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead, that may penetrate of conventional steel armour protected by explosive reactive armour. The m ...
- fiber-optic wire-guided anti-tank missile system
*
HJ-12
The Hongjian-12 () is a third generation, man-portable, fire-and-forget infrared homing anti-tank missile of China. It was unveiled at the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition.
History
The missile was first showcased on the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition. S ...
- man-portable infrared-homing anti-tank missile system
;Missiles of comparable design
*
MAPATS
*
ZT3 Ingwe
The ZT3 Ingwe (Leopard) is a modern South African multi-role laser beam riding anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) manufactured by Denel Dynamics (formerly Kentron).
Design and development
The ZT3 and its launch system were developed under the co ...
*
9M133 Kornet
The 9M133 Kornet (russian: Корнет; "Cornet", NATO reporting name AT-14 Spriggan, export designation Kornet-E) is a Russian man-portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) intended for use against main battle tanks. It was first introduced ...
References
HJ-9 ATM* (JIW) Jones, Richard D. and Ness, Leland (eds.), ''Jane's Infantry Weapons 2007-2008'', Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group Ltd., 2007.
* (JAA) Foss, Christopher F. (ed.), ''Jane's Armour and Artillery 2007-2008'', London: Jane's Publishing Company Ltd., 2008.
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Anti-tank guided missiles of the People's Republic of China
Weapons of the People's Republic of China
Guided missiles of the People's Republic of China
Air-to-surface missiles
Military equipment introduced in the 1990s