MissileThreat.com

Country:	People's Republic of China
Alternate Name:	Red Bird, DH-10
Class:	LLCM
Target:	Land
Length:	6.40 m
Diameter:	0.50 m
Wingspan:	2.50 m
Launch Weight:	1200.00 kg
Payload:	90 kT nuclear; 400 kg HE, submunitions
Propulsion:	Turbojet w/ solid booster
Range:	600.00 km
Guidance:	INS/GPS, TERCOM, radio altimeter
Status:	Operational
In Service:	1996-Present

Details

The Hong Niao-1 (HN-1) is a short-range, turbojet-powered, single warhead cruise missile developed and manufactured by the People’s Republic of China. Ground- and air-launched versions exist.

 

China is believed to have initiated development of the Hong Niao family of long-range cruise missiles in 1977. The idea was to create a missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead up to 3,000 km. Initial work was based on a design known as the X-600, which had a design range of 600 km. The X-600 used a Silkworm-type body, either a Hai Ying-4 (HY-4) or Ying Ji-6 (YJ-6), with a turbojet engine attached at the rear of the missile underbody. The development program was directed by the No. 1 Research Institute, also known as the Hai Ying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy. In the mid-1980s, all design and development work for cruise missiles was transferred to the 8359 Research Institute and the Cruise Missile Institute of China, and the manufacturing was transferred to the No. 7 Machine Building Facility.

 

The X-600 was first flight-tested in 1985, and used a small turbojet engine specifically developed for the project. In 1988, China began developing an improved design, which was designated the Hong Niao-1, or Red Bird-1. An alternative designator, the DH-10, has been reported but not yet confirmed. Two versions of the HN-1 exist: the ground-launched HN-1A and the air-launched HN-1B. The HN-1A version is believed to be launched from a wheeled Transporter-Erector-Launch (TEL) vehicle. The HN-1B version is launched from B-6D bombers, each of which carries two to four missiles.

 

The HN-1 is similar in shape and size to the Russian AS-15A “Kent” (Kh-55) and SS-N-21 “Sampson” (3M10), and to the U.S. RGM-109 “Tomahawk” cruise missiles. The HN-1 has a circular-shaped body, with two wings, a low tailplane, and a vertical fin mounted on the upper side. The wings, tail, and fin unfold after the launch. An air inlet for the turbojet engine is located under the body at the rear of the missile. Including the tandem-mounted booster rocket, the HN-1 is 7.2 m long, 0.5 m in diameter, and has a wing span of 2.5 m. The booster rocket weights 200 kg, bringing the missile’s total launch weight to 1,200 kg. The booster rocket assembly is jettisoned after use. The HN-1 is believed to carry a 400 kg payload, which could be a 20 to 90 kiloton nuclear warhead, high explosive warhead, or submunitions warhead.

 

The HN-1 has a minimum range of around 50 km. The maximum range of the ground-launched version is 600 km, while the maximum range of the air-launched version is 650 km. The missile cruises at around Mach 0.8 at an altitude of 20 m. The missile’s midcourse guidance is reportedly provided by an inertial navigation system/GPS guidance system. Terminal guidance is by terrain contour matching (TERCOM), and a television imaging system. The missile has a reported accuracy of 15 to 20 m circular error probability (CEP).

 

The ground-launched HN-1A is believed to have entered service around 1996. The air-launched HN-1B was first reported in June 2001. As of yet, China has not offered the HN-1 for export.(1)

 

 

 

 

Footnotes

 

1. Jane’s Strategic Weapons Systems, Issue 45, ed. Duncan Lennox, (Surrey: Jane’s Information Group, July 2006) 34-36; Lennox, “More details on Chinese cruise missile programme,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, 6 September 2000; Lennox, “China’s new cruise missile programme ‘racing ahead’,” Jane’s Defence Weekly, 12 January 2000; Lennox, “Co-operation boosts missile proliferation,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, January 1, 2002.