China: HQ-9 missile spotted

A series of satellite photos have captured a glimpse of China's HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system at a missile range in Xianyang in northwest China's Shaanxi province, according to the Janes Defense Weekly.

The photos of the Chinese air defense missile with its launcher and radar system were taken on Aug. 29 when a satellite flew over Sanyuan county in Xianyang. The HQ-9 missile is designed based on the Russian-built SA-10, and currently serves the ground and naval forces of the People's Liberation Army.

According to Janes Defense Weekly, the HQ-9's radar system differs from a Russian S-300 air defense missile in the tractor that is uses. The tractor of HQ-9's radar system is one meter shorter than the tractor of the Russian 64N6E radar. Meanwhile, Turkey announced that it would purchase the FD-2000, the export version of HQ-9 from China to serve as its air force's medium-range air defense missile. However, both the US and NATO have applied enormous pressure on Turkey over the missile deal, saying that the system would not be compatible with those of Turkey's other NATO allies.