Type 625e air defense system

Type 625e air defense

The Type 625E: China's Autonomous Beast of Air Defense

The Chinese Type 625E Anti-Aircraft Gun Missile Integrated Weapon System – a formidable and highly autonomous mobile air defense solution designed to counter these new-generation aerial challenges. Unveiled at the 2022 Zhuhai Air Show and recently seen in live-fire exercises, the Type 625E represents a significant leap in China's short-range air defense (SHORAD) capabilities.

The vehicle features a front-engine layout with a spacious control room next to the cabin, and a large combat module (turret) in the central part of the body. This turret houses its comprehensive armament and sensor suite.

Technical Specifications 

• Type: Mobile Anti-Aircraft Gun Missile Integrated Weapon System (SHORAD)
• Chassis: 8x8 Wheeled high-mobility chassis (likely ZBL-08 variant)
• Crew: 3 (Estimated)
• Mobility: Designed for high mobility, capable of rapid repositioning. Max speed up to 90-100 km/h.
• Role: Primarily designed for short-range air defense against aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, loitering munitions, and especially drone swarms. Also capable of limited engagement against light armored ground targets (C-RAM capabilities).
• Operational Philosophy: Autonomous, integrated, and decentralized operations.
• The Lethal Armament: Gun and Missile Combination

The Type 625E boasts a multi-layered defense capability, combining a rapid-fire Gatling-type cannon with precision surface-to-air missiles. This ensures effectiveness across different engagement ranges and against various threat profiles.

The Aircraft Gun: Six Barrels of Fury

The primary gun armament of the Type 625E is a six-barrel Gatling-type automatic cannon. There have been reports of both 25mm and 30mm versions of this gun. The 30mm variant is believed to be derived from the AK630 close-in weapon system.

1.  Caliber: 25mm or 30mm (depending on configuration)
2.  Rate of Fire: Thousands of rounds per minute (exceptionally high)
3.  Ammunition Types: Capable of firing various rounds, including High Explosive Incendiary (HEI), Armor Piercing Incendiary (API), Armor-Piercing Discarding Sabot (APDS), and particularly effective AHEAD (Advanced Hit Efficiency And Destruction) rounds, which are air-bursting shells designed to create a shrapnel cloud for increased lethality against aerial targets, especially drones.

1.  Effective Range (Gun): Up to 2.5 kilometers
2.  Altitude Ceiling (Gun): Up to 2 kilometers
3.  Targets: Optimised for saturating small, agile aerial targets like drones, but also effective against helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, and even certain precision munitions at close range. Its high rate of fire also lends it potential Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar (C-RAM) capabilities.
4. The Missile System: Extending the Engagement Envelope

Complementing the gun are short-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), housed in two independent quad launchers (four missiles on each side of the turret), totaling eight missiles. The Type 625E can be equipped with different missile types, extending its engagement range significantly.

Type 625E Defense System

Missile Types:

FB-10 / FB-10A Missiles: These are commonly cited missiles for the Type 625E. The FB-10   has an engagement range of 10 kilometers and an altitude engagement of 15 to 5,000   meters.  The FB-10A is reported to have an extended range of 17-18 kilometers and an   altitude of up to 7,500 meters.

FN-16 Missiles: Some configurations also mention the use of FN-16 air-defense missiles,   which have a maximum range of 6 kilometers and are known for their high maneuverability   (capable of performing 18g turns).

Guidance (FB-10A): Dual-mode guidance system consisting of radio command and imaging infrared (IIR) homing, providing strong anti-interference capabilities and a "lock-after-launch" and "fire-and-forget" capability.

1.   Minimum Engagement Range (Missile): 1 km (for FB-10A)
2.   Maximum Engagement Range (Missile): Up to 17-18 kilometers (with FB-10A)
3.   Targets: Designed to intercept low-altitude and ultra-low-altitude targets, including highly maneuverable aircraft, cruise missiles, and drone swarms.

Advanced sensor and firing control technology

The Type 625E's impressive combat capabilities are underpinned by a sophisticated integrated sensor and fire control system, enabling autonomous detection, tracking, and engagement.

Radar System: 

The system integrates both a search radar and a tracking radar. The search radar provides 360-degree situational awareness, while the tracking radar ensures precise target acquisition and engagement. The radar system is noted for its sensitivity, capable of detecting minute objects with minimal reflective surfaces, crucial for countering small drones. The radar range for target detection is reported to be around 50 kilometers.

Electro-Optical (EO) Sensors:

In addition to radar, the Type 625E is equipped with advanced electro-optical sensors, including thermal imagers. These provide passive targeting capabilities, enhancing performance in environments with heavy electronic countermeasures or against stealthy targets. The system can engage multiple targets simultaneously using its infrared camera feed.

Fire Control System (FCS):

The integrated FCS continuously monitors targets, calculates their trajectories, and determines optimal interception points, controlling the guidance of both the gun and missile systems.

The Type 625E Air Defense System stands as a testament to China's rapid advancements in military technology. Its integrated design, autonomous capabilities, and potent gun-missile combination make it a formidable "drone killer" and a versatile short-range air defense solution. As aerial threats continue to diversify and proliferate, systems like the Type 625E will undoubtedly play an increasingly vital role in ensuring battlefield superiority and protecting ground assets from the skies above.