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FK-1000

The FK-1000 surface-to-air missile weapon system was unveiled in the exhibition area of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation at the 10th China International Aerospace Expo on the Zhuhai Sea, 11 to 16 November 2014. FK-1000 features a 6x6 TEL with a combined missile and artillery air defense weapon system, equipped with 2 25mm anti-aircraft guns and 12 missiles. According to the booth staff, the weapon system has a diagonal kill zone ranging from 200 meters to 22 kilometers, and a height kill zone ranging from 0 meters to 10 kilometers.

From all aspects, it is equivalent to the latest improvement of the Russian Tunguska air defense system - Armor-S1. However, from the perspective of the model, there are still differences between FK-1000 and the Russian Pantsir-S1 [Armor-1S]. The most obvious difference is that it uses a new type of phased array guidance radar, which is similar to the radar of the Russian 9K330 Tor system. This also confirms from the side that China had successfully developed the domestic Tor air defense system.

The FK-1000 surface-to-air missile weapon system adopts the combination of bullets and guns, and has high combat effectiveness. It is an all-weather medium-to-low altitude, mobile, medium-to-short-range terminal air defense weapon system, which can kill cruise missiles, armed helicopters, air-to-ground missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, etc. Air strike targets are mainly used for field air defense, and can also be used for air defense in important areas. A single tank can simultaneously guide 3 missiles to intercept 2 targets

The China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation integrated the weapon system onto an 8×8 wheeled off-road control chassis, and the launch tower was installed at the rear of the vehicle. The main firepower of the system includes 12 FK-1000 two-stage solid-propellant surface-to-air missiles (6 on each side of the launch tower), and two 23mm automatic cannons installed in front of and behind these surface-to-air missiles.

FK-1000, including command and control radar, guidance radar, artillery, missiles, etc. are all integrated into one vehicle, with high combat effectiveness. It can kill multiple types of air strike targets such as cruise missiles, armed helicopters, air-to-surface missiles, and fixed-wing aircraft. It is mainly used for field air defense and also for air defense on important grounds. It is worth noting that the system has a multi-target strike capability. A single vehicle can simultaneously guide 3 missiles and intercept two targets.

The FK-1000 air defense system is quite similar to the Russian "Pantsir-S1" (SA-22 Greyhound) and uses some elements of the Russian "Tor-M1". It is possible that China intends to export FK-1000, first of all to developing countries. So far, it was not clear how the FK-1000 system will be equipped in the Chinese army in the future. The Russian Army refuses to equip the "Pantisr-S1", believing that it is bulky, vulnerable to attack, and has poor mobility. The Russian Army would rather buy an upgraded version of the Tor-M1, Tor-M2U, believing that the Tor-M2U is easier to hit moving targets.

The main purpose of "Pantsir-S1" is to protect troops from air strikes, defend strategic facilities, and provide cover for long-range air defense systems such as S-400. For this reason, it is currently all equipped with Russian air and space defense forces. According to the Russian military, its main targets are cruise missiles, other high-precision strike weapons, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The system's ability to destroy most of the cruise missiles has been proven many times in experiments and exercises.

If the People's Liberation Army is equipped with FK-1000 in the future, it may also be mainly equipped with the air force to protect strategic facilities and cover S-300, S-400 and HQ-9. Obviously, the Army will still only purchase the HQ-17 system in the future. The latter, like similar systems in Russia, will continue to be improved.

However, it is entirely possible that the FD-1000 is exclusively used for export, recreating the achievements of the "Pantsir-S1" in the global market. Presumably, it is much cheaper, although there is no reliable basis. But it is also obvious that FK-1000 is much less likely than "Pantsir-S1" series products. Its missile firing height should be low. The two 23mm automatic cannons cannot be compared with the two 30mm autocannons "2A38M" on the "Pantsir-S1", which has a maximum rate of fire of 5,000 rounds per minute. There is no reason to speculate that the FK-1000's radar system is better than the Russian "Pantsir-S1". At the same time, "Pantsir-S1" has been constantly improving. For example, in the near future, it will start production of an upgraded version that carries a new type of missile and has a maximum range of 35 kilometers. A more complete and improved version of "Pantsir-SM" will come out in 2017.

This shows that China's FK-1000 system and the "Pantsir-S1" competition prospects are still unclear. However, it may find a market in relatively less affluent developing countries. These countries need to protect the air defense systems of important national facilities, but they cannot afford and will not use the more powerful mid- and long-range air defense systems.

On 14 March 2018, CCTV's "Military Report" program showed pictures of some new equipment that were undergoing finalization tests at a certain army test site, and one of the pictures of a new type of air defense missile appeared for the first time. In the news program, a picture of an anti-tank missile hitting a target was edited after the picture of a new type of missile launching, causing some netizens to speculate that it might be a new type of anti-aircraft and anti-tank dual-purpose missile.

However, this is actually a new type of Army short-range air defense missile. Judging from the relevant information released by the Aerospace Science and Technology Group in previous exhibitions at home and abroad, this is a new type of infrared imaging-guided short-range missile developed by a certain institute of Shanghai Aerospace Science and Technology Institute. It is similar to the foreign trade FB-10 and FB-6 missile systems. Judging from the pictures of the new missile, it may be developed by combining the new infrared imaging guided rolling body short-range air defense missile used by the FB-10 missile system with the launch vehicle of the FB-6A air defense system A new mobile short-range air defense missile system.

The FB-10 system uses a new type of rolling-body missile that uses infrared imaging technology. Both FN-6 and FN-16 are shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles with a relatively short range, which has great limitations for covering mechanized troops. Compared with the active shoulder-fired infrared-guided air defense missiles, the new FB-10 system is characterized by long range, strong anti-interference, high power, high level of informatization, and low overall system cost.

Compared with the FB-10, the short-range ship-borne air defense missile FL-3000N sold by the Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation has a passive radar guidance function, which is more conducive to intercepting anti-ship missiles. The missile may become an important part of the PLA Army's new-generation field air defense system.