Pakistan Anti Tank Missile Baktar Shikan - HongJian HJ-8
Anti Tank weapons play an important role in any modern day warfare as it can easily neutralize the enemy armor attacks at a very limited cost and exposure. Pakistan military fully realize the importance of modern anti tank missile system and therefore, produced under license from China, its own version of anti tank missile system labeled Baktar Shikan. The missile is a advance version of Chinese anti tank weapons system called HongJian HJ-8 manufactured in Pakistan by AQ Khan Research Laboratories.
History and Development of Baktar Shikan Missile System or HongJian HJ-8
The HongJian 8 (HJ-8) is the second-generation ATGM developed by China. The system bears some resemblance to the Russian 9K111 Fagot (NATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot), but with improved performance. The HongJian 8 development began in 1970 and the weapon was certified for design finalisation in 1984. The missile entered service with the PLA in the late 1980s and has been deployed in three forms: man-portable, vehicle-mounted, and helicopter-mounted.
The HongJian 8 is designed primarily to engage tanks and armoured vehicles in all-weather conditions, day/night. It is a command to line of sight, semi-active homing, wire-guided missile launched from a tube launcher. The missile has a short, round body with a half-ball nose and foldable stabilising fins at missile’s tail. The missile has a maximum range of 3,000~4,000m. The early variants of the HongJian 8 can penetrate armours of 800mm thick, while the later variants (HongJian 8C/E) fitted with tandem warheads are claimed to be capable of penetrating armours of over 1,000mm.
The HongJian 8 missile can be fired by infantrymen using a tripod, as well as from vehicles and helicopter. In the man-portable version, the missile launcher tube and fire-control sight mechanism are supported by a tripod. Although categorised as a portable weapon missile, the man-packed variant HongJian 8 has to be operated by two men and is actually too heavy to be carried by soldiers over a long distance.
The HongJian 8 missile is also the main attack weapon of the Z-9G, Z-11, and SA 342L Gazelle attack helicopters. A Z-9W, Z-11, or SA 342L Gazelle armed variant helicopter gunship can carry four HongJian 8 missiles under the external pylons, while an improved Z-9WA can carry eight. The optical sight is housed inside a fire-control unit on helicopter roof and under-nose.
Some HongJian 8 (or Baktar Shikan) missiles were handed over to the Bosnian Muslim forces against Serbia Army in the early 1990s. The combat results showed that the missile had no difficulty in penetrating the front armour of the Serbia’s M-84 main battle tank.
Tactical and Technical Specifications of Baktar Shikan Anti Tank Missile
- Max Range: 5000 m
- Calibre: 152 mm
- Weight of the tube contained missile: 37 Kg
- Penetration: more than 1200 mm
- Elevation: ± 10°; azimuth: ± 200°
- High anti-jamming capability
- Command transmission distance: < 5.5 km
- Night fighting capability: detection, 4 km; recognition, > 2.5 km
- Mounted on vehicle and helicopter
- Complete technical support system
Thermal Imaging Sight:
- Detection Range: 4000m
- Recognition Range: 2500m
Laser Transmission Unit:
- Command Transmission Range: 5500m
Pictures of Baktar Shikan Anti Tank Missile System
Pakistan Anti Tank Missile Baktar Shikan - HongJian HJ-8
Linear Mode
