The Chinese HongQi 12 AKA KaiShan 1 SAM System

The Chinese HongQi 12 AKA KaiShan 1 SAM System

The Chinese HongQi 12 AKA KaiShan 1 SAM System (HQ-12) is a medium to long-range, all-altitude Surface to Air Missile (SAM) system developed by China Jiangnan Space Industry Co.

The system was first revealed to the public at the 1991 Paris Air Show. The development of the KS-1 was completed in 1994, by which time the system was not adopted by the PLA nor purchased by other nations.

The system was then further improved in to the KS-1A. The KS-1A features a truck-mounted mobile launcher replacing the original fixed launcher, and a new target acquisition/tracking radar.

Its believed that in 2005 Malaysia placed an order for the system. During the Chinese Revolution Military Museum in July/August 2007, a  KS-1A missile launch vehicle and a guidance station were displayed to the public. During the same exhibition, a photo confirmed that the military designation of the KS-1 is HongQi 12, suggesting that the missile may now be operational with the PLA.

The Chinese HongQi 12 AKA KaiShan 1 SAM System Specifications

Missile dimensions: length 5.6m / Diameter 0.4m / Wingspan 1.2m
Launch weight: 900kg
Propulsion: Solid rocket booster
Operating altitude: 0.5 – 25Km
Operating range: 7 – 42km, or (KS-1A) 5 – 50km
Maximum speed: 1200m/s
Missile manoeuvrability: 20G
Guidance: Radar command
Warhead: 100kg HE fragmentation, with radio frequency proximity fuse
Single shot hit probability: N/A
Max target manoeuvring capability: 4 – 5G