The HQ-17A is one of China’s latest short-range air defense systems, developed as an advanced evolution of the earlier HQ-17, itself derived from the Russian Tor family. Initially, China acquired 35 Tor-M1 systems from Russia and even proposed co-producing the system domestically. Moscow reportedly rejected the offer, prompting Chinese engineers to reverse-engineer the Tor-M1 and create their own variant—the HQ-17—featuring upgrades such as a modern radar suite.
The HQ-17A represents a further refinement of this design. Its pre-production version was first revealed to the public in 2018 as the FM-2000 export model, while the operational HQ-17A was officially unveiled during a 2019 military parade. Unlike its tracked predecessors, the HQ-17A is mounted on a wheeled chassis, improving road speed and reducing production and maintenance costs.
In terms of capabilities, it is broadly comparable to Russia’s Tor-M2 and bears a strong resemblance to Belarusian MZKT-6922-based wheeled Tor variants. Some subsystems—particularly the radar—are believed to be more advanced than those on its Russian counterpart. The HQ-17A can engage a wide range of aerial threats, including aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, and precision-guided munitions. It is specifically designed to intercept targets that slip past medium- and long-range air defense layers.
Its primary role is to protect mechanized formations on the move, but it is also suited for defending fixed strategic assets such as military bases, airfields, ports, supply depots, and command centers—without the expense of a tracked platform.
The launch vehicle integrates both radar and missile systems. It carries 16 vertically launched missiles with a maximum range of about 15 km and an engagement altitude of up to 10 km. A single missile has a 45–80% probability of hitting an aircraft under optimal conditions.
The HQ-17A is built on a 4×4 wheeled chassis—reportedly produced by Dongfeng Motor Corporation—offering excellent off-road performance. It is equipped with a central tire inflation system for varying terrain conditions. The cab is lightly armored, providing basic protection against small-arms fire and shell fragments.
