HQ-16 Missile Latest News
The United States military publicly unveiled a mockup of a Chinese HQ-16 surface-to-air missile system, drawing attention at this year’s Experimental Aircraft Association ‘AirVenture Show’ in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
About HQ-16 Missile
- The HQ-16, known by its NATO designation CH-SA 16, is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by China and based heavily on Russia’s Buk missile family.
- It is designed to engage enemy aircraft, cruise missiles, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles.
HQ-16 Missile Features
- HQ-16 features a vertical launch system, giving it 360-degree coverage and the capability to fire in a complicated geographical environment.
- The missile system is mounted on a Chinese-designed 6×6 high mobility chassis instead of tracked platforms, providing ease of maintenance and better road mobility.
- Each launch vehicle carries up to 6 missiles.
- The missile weighs 650 kg, has a length of 5.2 m and a diameter of 0.34 m.
- It can intercept flying aerial targets at altitudes of 15 km to 18 km.
- The maximum interception range for aircraft is 40 km, between 3.5 km and 12 km for cruise missiles flying at 300 m/s.
- The missile guidance system comprises inertial guidance and semi-active radar homing at the terminal phase.
Source: EURT
Last updated on November, 2025
→ Check out the latest UPSC Syllabus 2026 here.
→ Join Vajiram & Ravi’s Interview Guidance Programme for expert help to crack your final UPSC stage.
→ UPSC Mains Result 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC Notification 2026 is scheduled to be released on January 14, 2026.
→ UPSC Calendar 2026 is released on 15th May, 2025.
→ The UPSC Vacancy 2025 were released 1129, out of which 979 were for UPSC CSE and remaining 150 are for UPSC IFoS.
→ UPSC Prelims 2026 will be conducted on 24th May, 2026 & UPSC Mains 2026 will be conducted on 21st August 2026.
→ The UPSC Selection Process is of 3 stages-Prelims, Mains and Interview.
→ UPSC Result 2024 is released with latest UPSC Marksheet 2024. Check Now!
→ UPSC Prelims Result 2025 is out now for the CSE held on 25 May 2025.
→ UPSC Toppers List 2024 is released now. Shakti Dubey is UPSC AIR 1 2024 Topper.
→ UPSC Prelims Question Paper 2025 and Unofficial Prelims Answer Key 2025 are available now.
→ UPSC Mains Question Paper 2025 is out for Essay, GS 1, 2, 3 & GS 4.
→ UPSC Mains Indian Language Question Paper 2025 is now out.
→ UPSC Mains Optional Question Paper 2025 is now out.
→ Also check Best IAS Coaching in Delhi
HQ-16 Missile FAQs
Q1. The HQ-16 surface-to-air missile system was developed by which country?+
Q2. What is the maximum interception range of the HQ-16 missile against enemy aircraft?+
Q3. What kind of mobility platform does the HQ-16 system use?+
Q4. What type of guidance does the HQ-16 use?+
Tags: hq-16 missile prelims pointers upsc current affairs upsc prelims current affairs



