HN-5
Encyclopedia
The HN-5 is a family of first generation Chinese man-portable air-defense systems (MANPAD) based on Soviet technology. The literal translation of Hong Ying is Red Tassel, but HN abbreviation is used to avoid confusion with HY (Hai Ying, or Sea Eagle) series anti-ship missile
s of Silkworm missile
family. The HN-5 series in Chinese hands has been phased out in front-line and first line reserve units by QW series MANPAD
, but still being used by militia units.
. Due to the urgent need for MANPADs, North Vietnam provided China with an original sample during the Vietnam War
and asked China to produce and supply NVA with copies. However, due to the political turmoil in China, namely, the Cultural Revolution
, the reverse-engineering process was slow and by the time the first small production batch was sent to Vietnam for evaluation, the results were ineffective because American aircraft has already adopted ECM
to successfully counter HN-5 and its Soviet counterpart the SA-7A
. The dimensions and performance of HN-5 is extremely similar to that of SA-7A.
, this time the Strela-2M (SA-7B)
. However, when the Chinese finally completed its improvement, it was already too late to see action, because the Vietnam War
was over and the relationship between the two countries had soured.
. Although the missile had entered service with the Chinese army in the mid 1980s, it was not until 1990 when it was first publicly revealed in China.http://www.sinodefence.com/army/surfacetoairmissile/hn5.asp. According to many domestic Chinese media sources and some sources outside China, Chinese obtained the Soviet samples via Zaire
from UNITA
captured SA-14 Gremlin
from Angola governmental forces, the exact the same way China obtained 9K310 (SA-16) Igla-1 missile a short time later. The missile entered in service with the Pakistani army in January 1990.
has produced a missile as the Anza Mk I
, It has been used in combat. The missile hit and damaged an Indian An-32
that wandered across the line of control.
Anti-ship missile
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing...
s of Silkworm missile
Silkworm missile
The Shang Yo or SY-series , and the Hai Ying or HY-series were early Chinese anti-ship missiles. They were derived from the Soviet P-15 Termit missile.The HY-1 and HY-2 received the NATO reporting name Silkworm...
family. The HN-5 series in Chinese hands has been phased out in front-line and first line reserve units by QW series MANPAD
QW-1 Vanguard
The People's Republic of China developed QW-1 Vanguard is an all-aspect man-portable surface to air missile, from which a series of missiles were developed.-QW-1:...
, but still being used by militia units.
HN-5
The HN-5 is a reverse-engineered version of the Soviet SA-7AStrela 2
The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
. Due to the urgent need for MANPADs, North Vietnam provided China with an original sample during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
and asked China to produce and supply NVA with copies. However, due to the political turmoil in China, namely, the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, the reverse-engineering process was slow and by the time the first small production batch was sent to Vietnam for evaluation, the results were ineffective because American aircraft has already adopted ECM
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
to successfully counter HN-5 and its Soviet counterpart the SA-7A
Strela 2
The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
. The dimensions and performance of HN-5 is extremely similar to that of SA-7A.
HN-5A
As the result of unsatisfactory performance of the original HN-5, China immediately begun to improve the missile and North Vietnam once again provided China with the original Soviet sample during the Vietnam WarVietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, this time the Strela-2M (SA-7B)
Strela 2
The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
. However, when the Chinese finally completed its improvement, it was already too late to see action, because the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
was over and the relationship between the two countries had soured.
- Length: 1.46 m
- Weight: 10.2 kg
- System weight: 16.5 kg
- Missile diameter: 72 mm
- Warhead: 0.5 kg
- Fuse: impact
- Speed: 500 m/s
- Range: 800 m – 4.4 km
- Altitude: 50 m – 2.5 km
HN-5B
Developed by China based on the Soviet SA-14 Gremlin9K34 Strela-3
The 9K34 Strela-3 man-portable air defence missile system was developed in the Soviet Union as a response to the poor performance of the earlier 9K32 Strela 2 system. "9K34" is its GRAU designation and its NATO reporting name is SA-14 Gremlin. The missile was largely based on the earlier Strela...
. Although the missile had entered service with the Chinese army in the mid 1980s, it was not until 1990 when it was first publicly revealed in China.http://www.sinodefence.com/army/surfacetoairmissile/hn5.asp. According to many domestic Chinese media sources and some sources outside China, Chinese obtained the Soviet samples via Zaire
Zaire
The Republic of Zaire was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between 27 October 1971 and 17 May 1997. The name of Zaire derives from the , itself an adaptation of the Kongo word nzere or nzadi, or "the river that swallows all rivers".-Self-proclaimed Father of the Nation:In...
from UNITA
UNITA
The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...
captured SA-14 Gremlin
9K34 Strela-3
The 9K34 Strela-3 man-portable air defence missile system was developed in the Soviet Union as a response to the poor performance of the earlier 9K32 Strela 2 system. "9K34" is its GRAU designation and its NATO reporting name is SA-14 Gremlin. The missile was largely based on the earlier Strela...
from Angola governmental forces, the exact the same way China obtained 9K310 (SA-16) Igla-1 missile a short time later. The missile entered in service with the Pakistani army in January 1990.
Foreign Variant
PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
has produced a missile as the Anza Mk I
Anza (missile)
Anza is a series of shoulder-fired, man-portable surface-to-air missiles produced by Pakistan. Guided by an infra-red homing seeker, Anza is used for low level air defence....
, It has been used in combat. The missile hit and damaged an Indian An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
that wandered across the line of control.