Click to see full-size image. (Weibo)
A Chinese HQ-17 short-range air defense system has appeared in camouflage matching that used on Algerian military equipment, prompting reports that the system may be destined for Algeria.
Photographs of the system first appeared on Chinese social media, including Weibo, on September 25. Chinese sources claimed the system was part of an export order for Algeria, although neither the Algerian government nor Chinese manufacturer CASIC has publicly confirmed a sale.
A smaller possibility exists that the vehicles are intended for another customer in Africa’s Sahel region that uses similar camouflage.
Click to see full-size image. (Weibo)
Click to see full-size image. (Weibo)
The HQ-17 is a Chinese development derived from Russia’s Tor-M1 short-range air defense system. China acquired 27 Tor-M1 systems from Russia under contracts signed in 1996 and 1999 before developing its own version.
The system is designed to detect, track and engage low-flying threats, including helicopters, drones, cruise missiles, guided bombs and air-to-surface missiles.
Each launch vehicle carries its own radar and eight missiles, allowing it to operate independently while also receiving targeting information from other surveillance radars. Its electronically scanned radar is designed to provide greater resistance to jamming.
The HQ-17’s missiles can reach about Mach 3 and are reported to engage targets at ranges of 1.5 to 20 kilometers and altitudes of up to 10 kilometers.
China operates both the tracked HQ-17 and the wheeled HQ-17A, which is mounted on a 6×6 truck and can launch while moving. An export version known as the FM-2000 was displayed at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow, while the HQ-17AE was approved for export in 2021.
The HQ-17AE can engage four targets simultaneously with four missiles. Serbia operates the HQ-17AE, while the system has also been reported in Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan.
Algeria already fields a large air defense network combining Russian and Chinese systems. Its reported inventory includes Russian S-300PMU-2 and S-400 systems and Chinese HQ-9 systems. Algeria has also deployed Chinese CHL-906 electronic warfare vehicles.
An HQ-17 acquisition would add a short-range layer to that network, providing mobile protection for military units and strategic sites against drones, helicopters and other low-altitude threats that penetrate longer-range defenses. The deal would also highlight deepening defense ties between Beijing and Algiers.
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china has been selling weapons to morocco rather, which also uses that type of cammouflage. that’s a major reason why algeria declined invitations to brics years ago already.