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CASIC AG300 ATGM

At the 2016 Zhuhai Air Show, relevant Chinese units publicly exhibited the AG300 series of multi-purpose air-to-surface missiles for the first time. According to the exhibition data, the AG300 was developed based on the domestically-made reconnaissance and strike integrated system. It can be used for helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles. It has good maneuverability and launch It has the advantages of large range, high hit accuracy, and ability to strike multiple targets.

What’s surprising is that the launch distance of AG300 actually reaches more than 15 kilometers, and the AG300/M mounted on the straight -11MB reaches 18 kilometers. This indicator is almost three times that of the American HELLFIRE missile, reaching the level of the latest JAGM missile. This shows that China’s airborne anti-tank missile level has jumped to the top level in the world.

Wing Loong II was displayed at the Paris Air Show 2017 with a variety of Chinese weapon options. They include FT-9, FT-10 and LS-6 guided bombs, the YJ-9E missile with active radar seeker, AG-300/M, CM-502 and TL-2 air-to-surface missiles, and the Norinco Blue Arrow 7, the export version of the Chinese LJ-7. The Z-11WB can carry a range of weapons and equipment weighing up to 976kg. The weapon pylons on either side of the fuselage can be hinged with a quad launcher for Tian Lei 2 (TL-2) air-to-ground missiles. The TL-2 laser-guided missile is intended to engage small land and naval platforms, as well as personnel. The rotorcraft also carries an AG-300/M air-to-surface missiles.

The weapons of armed helicopters now adopt the long-arm principle, which is to attack outside the attack range of the opponent’s air defense weapons. This can effectively eliminate the target and protect ourselves. For example, the familiar AH-64 armed helicopter, which is launched by HELLFIRE, is airborne. The launch of anti-tank missiles can reach 8 kilometers, and now the range of small and medium-caliber antiaircraft artillery and portable air defense missiles is generally within 6 kilometers, so that the AH-64 can attack outside the opponent's range. During the Gulf War, the AH-64 relied on its advantage in range to severely damage the Iraqi armored forces.

There is a spear and a shield. For airborne anti-tank missiles like HELLFIRE, the former Soviet Union/Russia developed a Tunguska missile and artillery air defense system, which is equipped with air defense missiles that can attack up to 8 kilometers. Since then, Russia has developed more advanced The range of the anti-aircraft missiles equipped with the armored and artillery integrated air defense system has increased to 22 kilometers, which is almost three times the range of the HELLFIRE missiles. Therefore, armed helicopters such as the AH-64 have been difficult to deal with such missiles. For this purpose, the United States developed the JAGM missile, which is the successor to the HELLFIRE missile, with a range of more than 20 kilometers, so that the helicopter can counter the armored air defense system.

The Chinese Army Aviation Zhi-10 gunship is currently equipped with AKD-10 airborne anti-tank missiles. Its performance is equivalent to that of HELLFIRE missiles. Considering that air defense systems such as armor are proliferating, the Chinese Army Aviation needs a longer range airborne. Missiles, that is to say, China Army Aviation needs its own JAGM missiles, and the AG300 missiles should be developed to meet this requirement.

From the relevant information, the AG300 adopts a normal aerodynamic layout instead of the tailless layout of the AKD-10. The tailless layout can be regarded as an evolved normal aerodynamic layout, which combines the wing and the rudder into one. In order to improve the aerodynamic characteristics and the maneuverability of the missile, this layout is more difficult to design. The position of the wings of the missile is slightly moved forward or backward, which will cause the aerodynamic performance of the missile to decrease, so it has not been widely used. The advantages of the normal aerodynamic layout are not that the rudder surface has a small angle of attack, a small load, and a relatively small torque.

Therefore, aerodynamic coupling and nonlinear problems are relatively small. Therefore, the design and manufacture are relatively simple. Of course, the disadvantage is that the response is slow and affects Control efficiency, considering factors such as reducing development difficulty and cost, AG300 chose the normal aerodynamic layout. In fact, when the United States developed the JAGM, it also abandoned the tailless layout of the HELLFIRE missile and adopted the normal aerodynamic layout.

In addition, the AG300 adopts serialized technology, which is improved and modified from a basic missile to form different missiles to form a serialized model to adapt to different aircraft and helicopters. This can reduce the number of models developed and reduce costs and expenses. Simplified logistics support, the smallest AG300/S missile has a range of 1 km, the slightly larger AG300/M missile has a range of 18 km, and the largest AG300/L missile has a range of 40 km. In terms of guidance system, the basic type of AG300 is a semi-active laser guidance system, which can be equipped with a variety of warheads to attack different types of targets such as tanks, armored vehicles, buildings, and fortifications.

However, for the laser semi-active guidance system, due to the short wavelength of the laser, its near-Earth transmission is affected by unfavorable factors such as dense atmosphere, smoke and dust. Its range is limited, and its all-weather combat capability is relatively weak. However, according to relevant units Introduced, AG300 upgrades more advanced guidance systems, such as infrared imaging, millimeter active radar guidance systems, and even more advanced infrared/millimeter wave composite guidance systems. Of course, more advanced guidance systems mean higher prices for missiles. After the guidance system is upgraded , AG300 can realize the ability to be ignored after launch, especially by using the function of locking after launch, which can allow missiles to attack different targets at the same time, thereby effectively enhancing the attack capability of armed helicopters.

The successful development of the AG300 has greatly improved the attack capability of Chinese armed helicopters. Even the smallest AG300/S missile has a range of more than twice that of the HELLFIRE missile, while the larger one has reached 18 kilometers, almost. Three times the HELLFIRE missiles. With the AG300 missiles, Chinese armed helicopters can attack targets at longer distances and have the ability to confront the most advanced accompanying air defense systems like armor.