china vs. japan
* Not included below is the Chinese HQ-64. A derivative of Italy's Alenia Aspide system, which in turn was derived from the American AIM-7 Sparrow, the HQ-64 is only used in small numbers to defend Chinese airstrips.




PGZ95: Introduced in the late 1990s, the PGZ95 was developed using technology copied from the Italian SIDAM-25. The turret is armed with a quad-25 mm cannon system and four tubes firing QW-2 short ranged SAMs. The guns can fire at between 600 and 800 rpm, and can hit targets at an altitude of 2 km and a range of 2.5 km, while the missiles can manage to hit targets at an altitude of 3.5 km and up to 6.5 km away. The system has radar and TV tracking, a laser rangefinder and computerized fire control.
Chinese PGZ95
Type 87: The Type 87 is essentially the Japanese version of the famed German Gepard self-propelled air defense system. It takes the same radar-guided twin-35 mm gun system used by the Gepard and puts it on the hulls of old Type 74 tanks. Those guns have a rate of fire of 550 rpm, and the system uses modern tracking sensors, rangefinders and fire control.
Japanese Type 87
PGZ88: This was China's first automatic self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery (SPAAA) system. Introduced in the late 1980s, it consists of twin-37 mm guns capable of firing at 375 rpm with a range of 3 km. Fire control consists of radar tracking and a ballistic computer, but is otherwise fairly primitive and uses optical sighting and direction.
Chinese PGZ88
The closest Japanese system is the Type 87, listed above.
HQ-7: Originally a copy of the French Croatale, the HQ-7 has since seen multiple improvements and is in many ways superior to the original design. The system fires an IR-guided missile with optional electro-optical and manual modes, a range of 15 km, and a top speed of Mach 2.3. The missile is widely used in both by PLA Ground and the PLA Navy.
Chinese HQ-7 SAM
Type 81: Also known as Tan-SAM, the Type 81 is a short-ranged IR-guided missile with a 9.2 kg warhead, a range of 10 km and a ceiling of 3 km. The missile can reach speeds of Mach 2.4. Unlike the Type 93 system described above, the Type 81s are directed by a central fire control vehicle equipped with advanced radar and control computers. The four launch tubes can be reloaded in three minutes, and the vehicles can be fitted with one or two 12.7 mm machine guns.
Japanese Type 81 SAM
HQ-9: The HQ-9 is China's main long-range radar-guided anti-air missile and was introduced in the late 1990s. However, the system is not as effective as the S-300s imported from Russia, and should be looked at as supplementing rather than replacing the S-300. It fires a two-stage missile that combines homegrown and Russian rocket motor and guidance technology. That missile can reach a speed of Mach 4.2 with a ceiling of 30 km and a range of 200 km, and packs a 180 kg warhead. Although similar to the Russian S-300 and the American Patriot systems, the Chinese missiles are somewhat larger, probably due to China's lack of experience with solid-fueled rocketry. The typical land-based launcher fires from a four-tube erector on an 8x8 truck.
Chinese HQ-9 SAM
Type 03: Also known as the Chu-SAM, the Type 3 is operated by the Ground Self-Defense Force. It is a medium-range, radar- and IR-guided missile with a range of 50 km and a ceiling of 10 km. The speed of the missile is thought to be between Mach 2 and Mach 3, and it is fired from a six-tube launcher in a 8x8 truck.
Japanese Type 03 SAM
HQ-12: Also known as the KS-1, the original version of this medium-range missile was ready for service in the mid-1990s, but it failed to attract any interest either within the PLA or abroad. It was the first SAM system developed by China to employ phased-array radar. The current version is a different story, and was introduced in the late 1990s. Essentially a derivate of the old Soviet SA-2 missile, the missile has a ceiling of 25 km and a range of 42 km, with a maximum speed of roughly Mach 3. The warhead weighs 100 kg.
Chinese HQ-12 SAM
Hawk: The American-made Hawk is another SAM used by the Ground Self-Defense Force. First introduced in 1960, the Japanese use an upgraded, 1970s-era I-Hawk version. Even so, the Hawk is an aged SAM system, completely out-of-service with the US military and is being replaced by the indigenous Type 03. The medium-range, radar-guided missile packs a 54 kg warhead, a ceiling of 14 km and a range of 24 km.
Japanese Improved Hawk SAM
S-300PMU: This Russian SAM system has been in operation since the early-1990s, and is widely regarded as the best long range, radar-guided SAM system in the world. It is certainly the best of the non-Western systems. The Chinese were an early customer for the S-300, and despite their best efforts, have proven unable to copy the system or derive anything nearly as effective from it. It fires a single-stage missile capable of a speed of roughly Mach 5, a ceiling of 75 km and a range of 150 km. The system can also be used against ballistic missiles, with a range of 35 to 40 km in that role. The original warhead weighs 100 kg, although missiles packing heavier warheads are available.
Russian S-300 SAM
Patriot: The American MIM-104 is a famous, battle-tested long-ranged SAM and anti-ballistic missile system and widely used in the West. The Air Self-Defense Force use the PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles. PAC-2 is essentially an anti-aircraft missile with some modifications for use as an anti-ballistic system with a range of 160 km and a ceiling of 24 km. The missiles can reach speeds of Mach 5. PAC-3, on the other hand, has a much shorter range of 3 km and is specifically an anti-ballistic missile. While more maneuverable, it is slower, has a smaller warhead and has a range of only 30 km. The missiles are typical carried by an erector-launcher in a four-tube canister.
Japanese Patriot SAM
SA-15: China purchased a number of SA-15 Tor M systems in the mid-1990s, and these remain in service. The SA-15 is a radar-guided short-ranged SAM system that can even engage cruise missiles and other PGMs. SA-15 missiles have a ceiling of 6 km, a range of 12 km, and can bear their 15 kg warheads at speeds of roughly Mach 2.5.
Russian SA-15 SAM
Type 93: Known as "Closed Arrow" among the Japanese, this is a vehicle-mounted version of the Type 91 IR-guided, shoulder-fired SAM. It consists of two four-tube launchers mounted on the military version of the Toyota Mega Cruiser (the Japanese Hummer/Humvee). For missile details, see the Type 91 below.
Japanese Type 93 SAM
QW-1/2/3/4: An all-aspect IR-guided man-portable SAM (MANPAD), it fires a missile with a 0.55 kg warhead with a speed of Mach 1.5, a ceiling of 4 km and a range of 5 km. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s, later improvements brought the standard missile onto par with the mid-1990s -D version of the Stinger. The latest improvements resulted in the QW-2/3/4, which are thought to be as good as the latest Western-made MANPADs. Versions of this missile exist that use a man-portable radar instead of an IR-seeker for guidance or that have been tailored to shoot down low-flying cruise missiles.
Chinese QW-1 SAM
Type 91: Also known as the "Hand Arrow," this is Japan's indigenous MANPAD. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s, and has since been improved into the Type 91 Kai. It is an all-aspect IR-guided SAM with a speed of Mach 1.9. The imaging and guidance system is thought to be more advanced than the Stinger and better able to ignore countermeasures like flares. However, there is little solid information on the other technical aspects of the missile.
Japanese Type 91 SAM
FN-6: Sometimes also designated the HY-6, this is the most advanced MANPAD manufactured by China which is available on the export market. The PLA uses it in small numbers, but prefers to rely on the QW-1 series. It features a reasonably advanced IR-seeker, a range of 6 km and a ceiling of 3.5 km. The maximum speed is a little over Mach 1.
Chinese FN-6 SAM
FIM-92A Stinger: Japan bought the FIM-92A Stinger shortly after its introduction in the early 1980s. It has since been replaced by two different versions of the Type 91, but plenty of Stingers remain in Japan's inventory. The missile packs a 2-3 kg warhead, has a speed of Mach 2.2 and a range of 4.5 km. Compared to any missile in Japanese or Chinese service, the Stinger is thoroughly combat-tested, but the -A version is also thoroughly outdated.
Japanese FIM-92 Stinger
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Type 87: This is a twin-25 mm towed anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) with a rate of fire of 700 rpm. The effective range is 3.2 km. The sights feature IR imaging.
Chinese Type 87 towed AAA
The Japanese no longer employ towed AAA systems.
Type 90: This towed, twin-35 mm AAA system is a copy of Oerlikon's 35 mm gun system. The same gun is used in Japan's Type 87. Units of these guns are usually directed by a fire control vehicle with radar. The guns have electro-optical sighting, and can fire at 550 rpm.
Chinese Type 90 towed AAA