The only way to describe it is as follows:
Under the same generation, the HQ-9BE detects targets earlier and launches interceptor missiles earlier than the HQ-16FE.
Of course, the HQ-9BE is also more expensive, including the cost of procuring the SAM system and the cost of interceptor missile consumption.
Ballistic missile interception typically involves a multi-layered air defense network. If the first layer fails, the second layer begins interception... and so on.
Currently, China's air defense network consists of:
Exoatmospheric defense: HQ-26/29
Atmospheric edge defense: HQ-19
Long-range intraatmospheric defense: HQ-9/HQ-22
Medium-range intraatmospheric defense: HQ-16/HQ-20
Short-range intraatmospheric defense: HQ-10/HQ-17
It's important to distinguish between HQ-9B and HQ-9C in PLA are entirely different missile platforms despite carrying the HQ-9 code. Both serve entirely different purposes and both are considered the latest HQ-9 operated by PLA.
HQ-9C is a little more optimised for BMD while HQ-9B is a little more generalist.
You also forgot to add the other short to medium systems and SHORADs used by PLA.
- FK-3000
- HQ-11
- HQ-13 vehicle mounted SHORAD
- Type 625 wheeled gun + missile SHORAD
Without including all the small to large lasers and microwave weapons used for air defence by the PLA and also the ship based ones, a more comprehensive list of PLA ground forces operated, layered IAD are listed below.
And to clarify some definitions I use: BMD is obviously beyond "long range". "Long range" is 150km to 400km (generally speaking HQ-16C->F limit to HQ-9B and C limit). "Medium range" is 40km to 150km (short range limit to HQ-16C->F range limit) and "short range" is SHORAD to 40km. SHORAD is below 15km. So basically there is a lot of overlapping when it comes to the system's missile ranges themselves but SHORAD and short range I've distinguished mainly because the purpose and range of the higher tier medium range has evolved so much and generally increased in range a lot over the last decade, making room for this "short range" zone between SHORAD and the new medium range.
Ordered by general "range".
SC-19: Missile dedicated for anti satellite. Kinetic kill vehicle based. Up to GTO range.
DN-2 and DN-3 (动能): Dedicated ASAT similar to SC-19. All these would also have mid course interception capability against ballistic missiles.
HQ-29: Exoatmospheric interceptor BMD more optimised for slant range to hit ICBM/SLBM payload in space prior to separation
HQ-26: similar to HQ-29, differences unknown for now. HQ-26 or HQ-29 ship launch has been shown once. Difference between the two is unlikely based on ship or land launch but capability because you would simply have HHQ-xx for the ship launch version. Likely capability difference is very cost determined and hypersonic glider related. One or both of these are purpose designed to intercept hypersonic
manoeuvering targets.
HQ-19: Edge of atmosphere interceptor BMD so optimised for climb rate and to intercept individual warheads on the way down. The mainstay, mobile BMD system for PLA. Terminal phase BMD.
HQ-9C: High altitude interceptor BMD basically next layer to HQ-19. Terminal phase BMD. Warheads are closer to ground than HQ-19's range obviously.
HQ-9B: Generalist long range AD, think S-400. Went from HQ-9 to HQ-9A to HQ-9B in evolution with earliest being a combination of S-300PMU2/3 missile and launcher with Chinese digital radars and command to HQ-9B which is the latest and greatest in this series. Definitely separate type of weapon compared to HQ-9C. Both concurrently produced. Some BMD capability against IRBM and ICBM in terminal phase like S-400 and PAC-3.
HQ-12/22: Has a long history of evolution but went from large warhead short to medium range generalist to a smaller warhead, long range missile that is considered a more affordable HQ-9A/B supplement. BMD capability. I would imagine for SRBM and MRBM only.
HQ-16C to HQ-16F: The latest long evolution of the HQ-16 missile which originally was developed with the assistance of Almaz Antey as a modern Buk system. Now F series is wildly different. Completely different missile body. Range more than doubled since original 40km HQ-16 from 20 years ago. Serves as medium range component. Also generalist - engage cruise missiles, aircraft, ballistic missile warheads, drones (expensive ones only because this is still a very expensive missile!), secondary ground to ground like all large warhead SAMs e.g. HQ-9 series. So many variants to keep track of. I think HQ-16C is also the latest and like the HQ-9 platform, there are different missile types optimised for different purposes and unit mobility.
HQ-20: Quite a new system. Carries modular cabality from SHORAD to medium range.
HQ-11: New short to medium range system. Could be using the "5-5-5" missile which was discussed long ago about a new short to medium range naval interceptor that optimised fast burn time for quicker time to target but lower range. 5-5-5 referring to mach 5 within 5 seconds and 50km range. This is where this 5-5-5 missile best fits within the PLA operated SAMs. HQ-11 being a newish system lines up with the naval 5-5-5. As we know all the 055 and 052D can quad pack SAMs in their universal VLS cells which btw are considerably larger than the biggest USN VLS cell mainly because Chinese 055 and possibly even 052D need to carry large ASBM, hypersonic manoeuvering weapons and exoatmospheric BMD missiles like HQ-26/29.
HQ-17: Modernised Tor M1/2 based system from 20 years ago but developed over the decades. Still similar philosophy - to accomany moving brigades and support ground forces as a mobile, wheeled short range system to fire on the move.
FK-3000: Heavy system designed to be mobile and launch platforms to each carry up to 48 missiles. Also modular similar to the HQ-20. Range of missile types and purpose is entirely SHORAD. Some units can come with 30mm anti air cannon (air burst and kinetic staggered projectiles).
HQ-10: This is a naval based CIWS missile very similar to Western RAM. Very old system now but not sure why it's been included in the list above by Michael. Maybe confused it with HQ-13? which leads to...
HQ-13 or FB-10 latest type: Light armoured vehicle mounted SHORAD. Basically manpad for vehicle rigs. Also comes with gattling gun. Basically scaled down Type 625E.
Type 625E: Wheeled SHORAD combining manpad level missile and 25mm gattling gun. Newest version can carry up to 16 missiles rather than the previous 8 and the really old one which only carried 4 in rigs. Main purpose is mobile SHORAD.
FK-1000 and FK-2000: Pantsir like systems combining SHORAD missiles (manpad level or TY-90 based) and guns. Designed to be mobile. Outdated now.
LD-2000 and LD-3000: Land based, mobile CIWS using Type 730 and Type 1130, 30mm gattling cannons.
Anti drone is the real big new challenge and it's just too expensive to use missiles even short range ones to defend against cheap drones. The only solution is electronic war with jamming, DEW like microwave and lasers. Dedicated anti drone microwave weapons like FK-4000 and the Hurricane (飓风) series only came online in the last few years. Other fast and materially inexpensive methods are all the Chinese lasers for anti-droning. Again they are imperfect due to mobility restrictions and as Saudi Arabia experienced, sand or dust storms really deplete their effectiveness too. EW is probably the best means but there's no perfect drone defence atm. China is leading this area for sure since Saudi and Russia have had decent enough success with Chinese DEW based anti drone but imperfect. Still considerably better than US anti drone which have been close to zero effectiveness with Iran hitting whatever they please within their drone range despite US, NATO based and Israeli layered AD.
Newish SAM systems like HQ-11, FK3000 and HQ-20 are designed to operate with anti-droning in mind because they need the electronic flexibility to operate alongside heavy anti droning EW and microwave weapons. Meanwhile there are "hard" systems like the vehicle mounted (so mobile) anti drone lasers and wall of lead systems like Type 625, LD-2000 and LD-3000 to physically destroy drones too.
So basically to counter cheap drone swarms that aim to completely oversaturate AD, there is the "short range" (shorter than medium range but >15km) and SHORAD (<15km) missiles that need to be carried in the hundreds that can operate in an environment where
you as the defender are also pumping a lot of jamming into, while you might be making use of microwave weapons. Lasers can supplement the missiles at around the XXm to 15km range and behind that you just have anti air gattling guns. Some drones may still get through even all that and this is the PLA.
For everyone else? Forget about defending against cheap and plentiful drones. You simply need to stay out of their range. Even PLA bringing hundreds of missiles, jammer types, lasers and microwaves plus wall of lead last defence may not be able to counter 1000s of small drones.
