A new type of self-propelled air defense system integrated with a rotating cannon and missile launchers affiliated with the 71st Army Group of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) fires during a live fire exercise in a undisclosed location in 2024. Photo: screenshot from China Central Television

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently held live-fire exercises with a new type of self-propelled air defense system integrated with a rotating cannon and missile launchers, with experts highlighting the weapon’s potential against drone threats.

In an exercise conducted by the air defense troops of a brigade affiliated to the 71st Army Group of the PLA, the recently fielded missile and gun weapon system conducted simulated training air defense, China Central Television (CCTV) reported Tuesday.

The system is characterized by its high mobility, high precision and extended range, CCTV reported.

“This new weapon is equipped with a fire control system capable of calculating target trajectories based on their movements, enabling precise tracking and guidance to successfully engage targets,” said Zhao Jiayi, a member of the brigade of the 71st Army Group of the PLA. .

It has become a new layer of defense for the brigade’s terminal air defense, Zhao said in the report.

During another recent live-fire tactical exercise, as several waves of different targets approached from multiple directions in a complex environment of electromagnetic interference, troops quickly reacted and conducted precision strikes against incoming aerial targets, a reported CCTV.

The new equipment not only complements the terminal’s air defense against low-altitude, slow-moving and small targets, but also establishes a mobile terminal air defense network for attack troops and support forces in the systematic combat operations, said Liu Xinpo, another brigade member.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times that the new self-propelled missile and cannon weapon system is necessary in mobile and field air defense, as it can carry out air defense operations. interception on the move. It can switch from using missiles against distant targets to using the cannon against short-range, low-flying targets to achieve the best results.

Typical low-flying, slow-moving, and small targets include rotary-wing drones, as observed in recent regional conflicts. The new weapon has potential against drones, according to Fu.

As drones emerge as new threats in modern warfare, anti-aircraft guns remain a very important tool, especially against drone swarms, Fu said, noting that low-flying, slow-moving and small targets, such as drones, have small radar cross sections, making them difficult to detect, and they are also too expensive to intercept using expensive missiles.