During the “Belt and Road” International Summit, the Chinese side met with the Serbian Minister of Defense and presented Serbia with a state gift. This particular gift, in addition to a Jingtailan craft bottle, also included a sophisticated model of the HQ-17A air defense system and a Huawei MATE X5 foldable screen smartphone. These three gifts are symbolic, representing culture, military, and technology, respectively.
During the military meeting between China and Serbia, discussions naturally revolved around military cooperation. According to Serbia, drones and air defense systems from China have become an integral part of Serbia’s defense system, crucial for defending its airspace and the nation. After the talks, both sides agreed to continue their collaboration, especially in the fields of drones and air defense systems.
The inclusion of the HQ-17A air defense missile system model in China’s state gift was no random choice. While it represents the military equipment of the PLA, there are other symbols like main battle tanks, fighter jets, or main naval vessels that could be more representative with a stronger visual impact. The choice of the HQ-17A indicates a specific intention, especially considering that air defense systems are a key focus of China-Serbia cooperation.
The HQ-17A field air defense system is a lightweight version of the HQ-17, mainly developed to meet the accompanying air defense needs of the PLA’s medium brigades. Compared to the HQ-17, the HQ-17A uses a 6X6 wheeled chassis instead of a tracked one, significantly reducing its weight, purchase cost, and making logistics support more convenient. An export version of the HQ-17A, known as HQ-17AE, has also been developed.
Derived from the Russian Tor-M1 air defense system, China reverse-engineered and significantly improved the HQ-17. The main enhancements include vehicular systems, electromechanical equipment, radars, optoelectronics, and an increased missile range. The HQ-17 uses an active phased array radar, has expanded to four fire control channels, and its missile’s maximum range increased from 12 km to 20 km, with a maximum altitude of 10,000 meters.
With these capabilities, the HQ-17 and HQ-17A can counter low-altitude threats beyond 2030, providing reliable air defense for mechanized troops. The current mainstream anti-tank missiles or other light ground attack missiles generally have a range of over 10 km. For example, the U.S. AGM-179 air-to-ground anti-tank missile has a maximum range of approximately 16 km when launched from armed helicopters. The main counter-targets for the HQ-17 are helicopters and attack aircraft equipped with such missiles.
Of particular note, the HQ-17AE short-to-medium range air defense system is designed to counter small drones, cruise missiles, and other “low-cost aerial assets”, placing it at the forefront of global technology.
Upon its release, the HQ-17AE drew significant international attention, with countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt showing strong interest. One of the main agendas for Serbia’s visit to China might be the acquisition of the HQ-17AE. Serbia’s current air defense systems primarily comprise the Soviet-made SA-3 and SA-6 missiles. These systems, introduced between the 1960s and 1980s, are outdated and ill-equipped for modern warfare. Serbia urgently needs to upgrade its air defense to safeguard its national airspace and security.
Serbia has already purchased the FK-3 medium-to-long range air defense missile system from China. The FK-3, an export version of the HQ-22, has a maximum range of 120 km. After obtaining the FK-3, Serbia’s national air defense capability saw a significant enhancement.
However, the FK-3 is a medium-to-long range system intended for territorial deployment. The Serbian Army, especially its mechanized units, still requires an accompanying air defense system to replace the equally old Arrow-10M system. Serbia constantly faces the threat of land conflicts in the Kosovo region, making field air defense a priority.
Serbia’s expertise in air defense is limited. Currently, their domestically produced systems include the Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft gun combined with short-range air defense missiles in the PASARS-16 gun-missile system. Considering these factors, Serbia opted for the HQ-17AE system. This fills a crucial gap in Serbia’s new generation of air defense, providing capabilities to intercept enemy drones, cruise missiles, and even to strike enemy battlefield targets from a distance.
This means that Serbia’s new generation of air defense systems primarily comprises our air defense missiles. This not only underscores the deep friendship and cooperation between our countries but also indicates that our domestically produced air defense systems have been recognized by foreign customers, emerging as our leading export products.
Source: Wang Yanan