China tests Type 625E short-range air defense system (SHORAD)

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA Army) has just tested the Type 625E short-range air defense system which is predicted to be the closest competitor to the Russian Pantsir-S1 system.

This mobile air defense system will begin rolling out in 2022, developed by China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC) and China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco).

The Type 625E is designed to address the short-range air defense (SHORAD) gap in the PLA Army's multi-layered air defense strategy.

The system is equipped with weapons in the form of a 25 mm six-barrel Gatling cannon, with an effective range of up to 2.5 km and a maximum altitude of 2 km.

The system is mounted on an eight-wheeled, high-mobility chassis, similar to the ZBL-08 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, providing high mobility over a wide range of terrain, enabling rapid deployment and repositioning in response to battlefield needs.