GEOINT | PLAAF SAM Site at Shigatse (Xigaze), TAR, China
By IndraStra Global Editorial Team
General Specifications: SAM Type: HQ-12 / KS -1A (Kai Shan 凯山一号) Location: PLAAF Shigatse/Xigaze Air Force Base, TAR, Chengdu Military Region, China Range: 50 km — 100 km (Depending upon the configuration) Speed: < 1.2 Mach Warhead: High Explosive (HE) fragmentation warhead with radiofrequency proximity fuze (weight 100 kg max.) Maneuverability : 5g — 20 g (Depending upon the trajectory) Advantage: Presence of CETC JY — 27A Long Range Radar with anti-stealth capabilities and H200 Phased Array Radar Target Zone: Eastern Sector, INDIA
About H-200 Phased Array Radar
H-200 can be expected to function in G-bands, offering integrated electronic sector surveillance, target detection (TD), target tracking (TT), Identification Friend & Foe (IFF), and missile guidance (MG) functionality.
The antenna face comprises surveillance, IFF, target illumination and data transmission elements, and will offer phase steered target detection over an approximate 90º sector and tracking over a somewhat wider sector, but less than 160º. Reported capability is as follows:
Target detection & tracking ranges:
- Max detection range: ≥120km @ 8 km altitude ≥50km @ 0.1km altitude (alt)
- Max stable tracking: ≥90km @ 8 km alt ≥45km @ 0.1km alt
- Target characteristics: RCS: 2m2
- Max target velocity: 750m/s (2.18 Mach)
- Tracking capacity: Accurate tracking 3 targets; Monitoring 3 targets; Guidance 6 missiles; Guidance error: ≤50m
- Set-up time ≤30 mins Tear-down time ≤20 mins qualifying the radar as semi-mobile.
About CETC JY-27A Skywatch V Radar
The CETC JY-27 is a recent Chinese design which is clearly influenced by the 1L13 Nebo SV / Box Spring and 1L119 Nebo SVU.This land-based radar system has a target acquisition range at 330 km (maximum) and has a Detection Accuracy of 150m, Detection Accuracy — Azimuth approximately 1 degree.
Analysis:
The presence of such sophisticated SAM assets in the TAR covering whole Eastern Sector of India depicts the gravity of the situation and kind of response PLAAF would like to deploy if conflict arises with India. Kindly refer to the map below:
Although, whole aspect of having such SAM site revolves around the Shigatse Air base defence as well as to support near by Radar sites under network centric warfare protocol of PLAAF. Shigatse is now being upgraded into Tibet’s first all-weather air base capable of sustaining high-intensity offensive air sorties, and is now protected by the JL-3D-90A long-range airspace surveillance radar, a Battery of HQ-12/KS-1A MR-SAM air defence system and a combination of FN-6 MANPADS, LD-2000 point-defence systems, and SmartHunter low-probability-of-intercept radars. During hostilities, Shigatse, falling under the Lanzhou MR, could also receive reinforcements from the Yinchuan AB-based 6 Fighter Division with 16 (Su-27SKs and Su-27UBKs), 17, 18 & 139 Air Regiments; Wulumuqi AB-based 37 Fighter Division comprising 109 (J-8Fs at Changji), 110 (Urumqi South) & 111 (with J-11s at Korla-Xinhiang) Air Regiments; and Wugong AB-based 36 Bomber Division with its 106, 107 (Lintong) and 108 (Wugong) Air Regiments, and the 93942 AAA Missile Brigade.This particular military phenomenon conforms to the Darwinian Law — “survival of the fittest” and the law of imbalance — “one falls, the other rises”. Conclusion: At Eastern Sector, China cannot take India lightly on the account of latter’s air power and ability to hit strategic Tibet Qinghai Railway Network which is important feeder route to G219 Highway, eventually cutting off whole region from Chengdu Military Region HQ. So, in coming years — the area fortification and reinforcement sites like the one we discussed above will grow in numbers in Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) with rampant tunneling activities which will provide strategic depth to PLA’s forces across the various possible engagement zones across the length of the Sino-Indian Border.
References: 1. Images: Google Earth / Photosphere 2. http://trishul-trident.blogspot.in/2012/03/taking-stock-of-chinas-airpower-build.html 3. People’s Liberation Army Air Force and Naval Air Arm Air Base Catalogue 4. Chinese intrusions across the LAC by Namrata Goswami — ISN ETH Report 5. People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces Modernisation — CLAWS.in 6. China’s Air Power Implications by Gen. Shankar Roy Chowdhury — CLAWS.in
Originally published at www.indrastra.com on September 16, 2015.
