DK-10
| DK-10 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Medium range surface-to-air missile |
| Place of origin | China |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2017 – present |
| Used by | Royal Moroccan Army Rwanda Defence Force |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) China North Industries Corporation |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 372 kg[1] |
| Diameter | 203 / 260 mm[1] |
| Wingspan | 497 mm[1] |
| Warhead | 20 kg HE warhead |
Detonation mechanism | impact / proximity |
| Engine | rocket motor |
| Propellant | solid fuel |
Operational range | 3 km to 50 km |
| Flight altitude | 30 m to 20 km |
Guidance system | inertial navigation system / datalink / ARH |
Launch platform | Surface |
The DK-10 missile (Chinese: 地空-10[2]) is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), as part of the Sky Dragon 50, Tianlong-50 (Chinese: 天龙50), or GAS2,[3][4] air defense system, jointly developed by AVIC and China North Industries Corporation (Norinco). As a competitor to the HQ-16 (LY-80) medium-range air defense system, it lost the bid against the HQ-16 for the Chinese People's Liberation Army service as the HQ-16 was selected. Later, it was exported by Norinco for foreign armed forces.
History and development
The DK-10 missile is a surface-to-air variant developed from the PL-12 (SD-10) air-to-air missile. The PL-12 (SD-10) was developed by Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) as a beyond-visual-range active-radar weapon for the Chengdu J-10 and Chengdu FC-1 fighters. At Zhuhai Airshow 2008, AVIC revealed the Hunter II (Chinese: 猎手-2) air defense missile system, which consists of a mix of ground-launched PL-12 (SD-10) and PL-9C missiles. The Hunter II system can engage targets at a range of 15–21,000 m (49–68,898 ft).[5]
SD-10A, as a ground launch missile, had its limitations; thus, AVIC developed an improved variant called DK-10, which is optimized for ground launch with an enlarged missile fuselage containing more fuel.[5] In September 2014, the DK-10 missile was displayed at the AAD Defense Exhibition in South Africa.[6] At Zhuhai Airshow in November 2014, The DK-10 missile was displayed as a part of the Sky Dragon 50 air defense system, jointly developed in partnership by AVIC and China North Industries Corporation (Norinco).[7] Aside from the DK-10, a shorter-range version called the Sky Dragon 12 was also displayed.[8][9]
Design
DK-10 is an enlarged SD-10A for better ground-launched performance. The missile features a length of 5.054 m (16.58 ft), a diameter of 203 mm (8.0 in), a range of 50 km (31 mi), and a launch altitude of 30–19,800 m (98–64,961 ft).[5][10] The guidance mode consists of an inertial navigation system, datalink, and active radar homing (ARH) at the terminal phase.[5]
The Sky Dragon 50 air defense system can fire multiple DK-10 missiles simultaneously. A typical battery consists of one command vehicle, one IBIS-150 3D radar vehicle, one fire distribution vehicle, and up to six launch vehicles. Each launch vehicle consists of a 6x6 Beiben 2628 truck carrying 4 ready-to-launch missile canisters.[6][5][11] The IBIS-150 radar can simultaneously track 144 targets and engage 12 targets by guiding a total of 24 missiles, with two missiles against each target to ensure that the minimum probability of kill is greater than eighty percent.[10] The radar has a search range of 150 km (93 mi) and a tracking range of 100 km (62 mi) for a typical fighter-sized target. Aside from the IBIS-150 radar, the customer can choose the more advanced IBIS-200 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.[12]
Deployment
The Sky Dragon 50 system was a competitor to the HQ-16 (LY-80). However, it was not selected and adopted by the People's Liberation Army.
In 2014, it was reported that the Rwandan Armed Forces had purchased at least 4 launchers of the Sky Dragon 50.[13][14]
In 2017, the Sky Dragon 50 was sold to the Moroccan Armed Forces. Prior to taking delivery, Moroccan officers from the Royal Artillery, radar specialist, and air defense operator units had undergone training in China.[15][16]
Variants
- DK-10
- Surface to air missile developed from the SD-10A missile
- Sky Dragon 50
- Surface-to-air missile system mounted on Beiben 2628 truck
Operators
Current operators
- Royal Moroccan Army - 24 launchers
- Rwanda Defence Force - 4 launchers
References
- ^ a b c Photo img-fotki.yandex.ru
- ^ "中国地空型SD10A导弹首次试射 领先红旗16一代". Sina News. 15 September 2015.
- ^ "Sky Dragon 50 GAS2". Army Recognition. 31 July 2025.
- ^ "摩洛哥装备的中国天龙50(GAS2)地空导弹系统新图片". Sina News. 23 December 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "两代大师接力合作的精品——讲讲中国霹雳-12空空导弹的研制过程". EET China. 6 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Sky Dragon 50 GAS2 medium-range surface-to-air defense missile | China Chinese army missile systems vehicles | Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK".
- ^ "中国天龙30导弹首次曝光 射程力压欧美同型产品(图)". Sina News. 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Airshow China Photo Report - Air Defense". 14 November 2014.
- ^ "英媒：印尼可能成为中国"天龙50"导弹首个用户". Guancha. 11 November 2016.
- ^ a b "China Displays Air Defense Missile and Tank Under Development". Military.com. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 August 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Sky Dragon 50 missile in Zhuhai Airshow 2014, GAS2 missile system". Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "首次官宣！中国天龙-50防空导弹系统，被摩洛哥官方专题报道". Sohu News. 27 December 2021.
- ^ "War planning?! Rwanda bought TL-50 air defense missiles from China: Kanwa". 10 November 2014.
- ^ "China Defense Company NORINCO to export Sky Dragon 50 air defense missile system to Rwanda 2311141 | November 2014 global defense security news UK | Defense Security Global news Industry army 2014".
- ^ "Morocco bolstered by new Chinese Sky Dragon 50 Surface to Air Missile". 3 February 2018.
- ^ Binnie, Jeremy (31 January 2018). "Morocco reportedly acquires Sky Dragon 50 SAM". Jane's. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
- 19960619, National Air Intelligence Center (NAIC): "Lieh Ying: The Chinese-built Surface to Air Missile Weapon System", An Hua, NAIC-ID(RS)T-0253-96