China China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
HQ-16
A Chinese medium-range surface-to-air missile system developed jointly with Russian assistance, filling the gap between short-range point defenses and the long-range HQ-9. It is fielded in both land and naval vertical-launch variants.
In service since 2011 · 3 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
40
km range
18,000
m altitude
4
targets
150
km radar
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 3 operators
In service since 2011. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 3 Mach |
|---|---|
| Engagement range Maximum distance at which an air-defense system can intercept targets. Higher covers more airspace. | 40 km |
| Engagement altitude Maximum target altitude the system can reach. | 18,000 m |
| Simultaneous targets Number of targets the system can engage at once. Higher resists saturation attacks. | 4 |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | HQ-16 interceptor missile |
|---|---|
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 70 kg |
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Semi-active radar homing, Inertial + datalink |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Radar Primary radar. AESA (active electronically scanned array) is the current state of the art. | 3D surveillance and engagement radar |
|---|---|
| Radar range Published detection range against a typical fighter-sized target. Higher sees first. | 150 km |
| Datalink Network connectivity: Link 16, MADL, national datalinks. Enables cooperative engagement. | Battalion command network |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 3 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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What is the engagement range of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16 has a maximum engagement range of 40 km.
What is the main armament of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16's primary weapon is the HQ-16 interceptor missile.
What is the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16 used for? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16 is a air defense system typically used for air defense.
How many countries operate the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16? +
The China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16 is operated by 3 countries.
How much does the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16 cost? +
China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation HQ-16: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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