Changgung air defense system
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The Changgung air defense system (Menghean: 창궁 방공망 / 蒼穹防空網, Changgung banggongmang) is a family of Menghean surface to air missile launchers and associated radar platforms. Changgung (창궁 / 蒼穹) can be translated as either "Blue Dome" or "Firmament," and both terms appear in Anglian-language marketing literature. The designation refers to the networked air-defense battery as a whole, not to the missiles it fires: the system is compatible with YDG-39, YDG-62, YDG-63, YDG-64, YDG-65, and YDG-67 missiles, and can also feed targeting information to short-ranged C-RAM type guns.
In its earliest iteration, also designated Changgung-G, the system was a licensed copy of Letnia's S-300PMU-1, delivered in 1996. Improvements from the S-300PMU-2 system were added shortly afterward. Since then, however, the Changgung family has evolved to encompass a much wider array of missiles,
Development
Missiles
System components
Command vehicles
Radars
Missile launch platforms
Radar masts
In a continuation of Letnian practice, two modular radar masts exist for the Changgung air defense system. These are designed to elevate a search radar or fire-control radar higher above the ground, extending the radar horizon out further and reducing the interference from ground clutter. These benefits are particularly useful when engaging helicopters, terrain-following aircraft, and cruise missiles. The tradeoffs include a relatively long deployment time, complicating shoot-and-scoot operations, and the need for additional vehicles in the battery. Domestically, the Menghean Army appears to use these masts predominantly in coastal defense units, and also in heavily forested areas of Innominada, while relying on mastless systems on the South Hemithean Plain.
The mast is a separate piece from the radar array, which is attached immediately prior to deployment. When moving, the radar is carried on a special radar transport vehicle, and the radar command post sits on a separate vehicle which parks beside the mast upon deployment. The larger type also requires a 90-ton crane vehicle and a trailer carrying the upper mast segment. Organizationally, the mast, radar, and associated equipment are generally placed in a separate battery from the missile launch batteries, which have mastless radar vehicles as backup.
Deployment cycle for the 60T1 single-piece mast is as follows: 1. Mast battery elements come to a stop at the chosen deployment site. 2. 60T1-1 trailer is decoupled from its prime mover. 3. 60T1-1 trailer deploys stabilizing outriggers. Radar transport trailer and crane park aligned with the mast head. 4. Crane attaches radar unit to the horizontal mast head. 5. Mast unit elevates and radar deploys.
- 60T1: Copy of the Letnian 40V6M 24-meter radar mast. Time to erect or stow from a road march: 1 hour.
- 60T1-1: Trailer carrying the mast and stabilizing outriggers.
- 60T2: Copy of the Letnian 40V6MD 40-meter radar mast. Time to erect or stow from a road march: 2 hours. Requires the use of a special 90-ton crane to attach the upper mast stage, which is carried on a separate trailer.
- 60T2-1: Trailer carrying the mast lower half and stabilizing outriggers.
- 60T2-2: Trailer carrying the mast upper half.
- GJ-80: 80-ton-capacity crane for mast assembly and radar attachment.
Logistics
System variants
- Changgung-G: original system, based on S-300PMU-1. Only uses the YDG-39 missile.
- Changgung-G1: upgraded system with improvements from the S-300PMU-2. Also uses YDG-39 only.