China reverse-engineered Russia’s S-350 Vityaz medium-range surface-to-air missile

Chinese copycat S-350 medium-range missile system.

China reverse-engineered Russia’s S-350 Vityaz medium-range surface-to-air missile system by HQ-9 manufacture, China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

The video circulating on social media shows the imposing launcher, mounted on an 8×8 wheeled chassis identical to S-350 missile, carrying 12 long interceptor missiles and sparking widespread speculation about its origins and capabilities.

S-350 medium-range missile system

Global Defence Corp believes that this is a copycat S-350 medium-range missile system.

The HQ-16 series, developed for medium-range interception missions, has been a cornerstone of China’s layered air defense network. However, the newly photographed launcher features notable design changes, including an expanded missile load and its integration on a modern 8×8 chassis, enabling improved mobility across various terrains.

HQ-16 and HQ-9A proved to be inaccurate in the recent Indo-Pakistani war. Adding another missile type provides an extra layer of protection for China and its export customers.

HQ-16 is a 40km-range missile, and HQ-9A and HQ-9B range from 120km to 200km. The new, reverse-engineered missile fills the gap between the two missiles. Additionally, it offers China the opportunity to export to Asian and African countries that do not wish to purchase the inaccurate FK-3 or KS-1B missiles.

Defense analysts say the presence of 12 interceptors in a single vehicle points to a system optimized for countering massed aerial threats, such as swarms of cruise missiles or unmanned aircraft.

“This configuration suggests a focus on saturation defense, providing a rapid response capability against high-volume attacks similar to new Russian S-350 system,” one expert commented in the sinodefenceforum.

The system’s appearance has also raised questions about whether it is intended purely for domestic use or could eventually be offered for export. China has aggressively promoted advanced missile technologies in recent years, targeting buyers across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

Social media users speculated that the launcher’s design borrows heavily from the Russian S-350, which itself is a relatively new addition to Moscow’s air defense inventory. Both systems are tailored for mid-tier interception duties, filling the gap between short-range point defenses and strategic high-altitude systems like China’s HQ-9 or Russia’s S-400.

As of now, Chinese state media and defense authorities have not commented on the photos, leaving many details about the system shrouded in mystery.

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