NORINCO HJ-8 (Hongjian-8) (Red Arrow-8)

History

After design work initially began in the early 1970s, the arrival of China's indigenous HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) weapon was delayed by the events of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). This delayed the launch of this powerful battlefield weapon until 1985, and its manufacture has been managed by China North Industries Group Corporation. The weapon has also been adopted by the Pakistani military as a locally (licensed) production "Baktar-Shikan".

Despite its Cold War roots, the HJ-8 remains a formidable tank killer today.

Having long relied on Soviet imports for military products, China saw a shift in developing its own military-industrial complex in the 1960s and 1970s. This has spawned a series of localized products good and bad that have made the Chinese military more independent over the past few decades.

The HJ-8 is in many ways a product of that era and its ideas.

The HJ-8 is described as a "second generation" ATGM system. It is designed to fight enemy armor from a distance (usually from cover) and can even penetrate the protection provided by explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks in modern use. The weapon is a complete system consisting of launch tubes, missiles, optics and mounting components.

While it can be launched from a standard heavy-duty tripod, it can also be attached to military vehicles and aircraft to perform the same armor-piercing role as intended. A typical operations team consists of two people.

The launch tube fires a solid-fuel rocket with an extended penetrator and four stabilizer wings on the warhead cone. At extreme ranges, the operational range is up to 19,600 feet (about 6 kilometers), and guidance is sent in the form of operator trigger signals through cables connected from the launched missile to the launch vehicle itself. As such, the weapon remains a "line-of-sight" (LOS) anti-tank measure whose range is limited by the length of the wire. Many LOS ATGM systems today (2014) have been replaced by more robust "fire and forget" solutions.

The HJ-8 rocket itself weighs about 25 kilograms, is 1566 mm long and has a diameter of 120 mm. Speeds up to 721 feet per second.

The HJ-8 originated from its early production brand with the base name "HJ-8". It was followed by the improved HJ-8A with increased range and penetration values.

The HJ-8B is used as a form of helicopter launch, while the HJ-8C is designed to counter the use of the ERA in modern Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) and similar armored vehicles. The HJ-8D features a tandem warhead loadout for increased penetration, while the HJ-8E features an all-new engine system with extended attack range. The HJ-8Fi is a "bunker breaker" derivative, and the associated HF-8FAE is equipped with a thermobaric warhead.

The HJ-8L is the light version and the HJ-8H is the modernized form of the HJ-8E. The HJ-8S variant is intended for use in an anti-ship role.

HJ-8 system operators (excluding China and Pakistan) include Albania, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay and Zimbabwe. The Bosnian Armed Forces used the HJ-8 in combat during the Bosnian War (1992-1995), and the Syrian insurgent groups are actively using the HJ-8 as part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War (2011-?).

Specification

Roles

Dimensions

Performance

Changes