China unveils new LY-70 mobile short/medium-range air defense missile system

Chinese company CASIC (China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation) unveils the LY-70, a new mobile air defense system armed with 14 surface-to-air missiles ready to fire, during the edition 2021 of AirShow China that was held in Zhuhai, October 2021.

The LY-70 is a mobile medium and short-range air defense missile system based on 6×6 military truck chassis. The missile system integrates on the truck chassis is able to destroy aerial targets as cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, rockets and fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, drones, and more.

The LY-70 carries two types of missiles, it has two pods of four medium-range missiles LY (Falcon)-70 an three additional launcher units mounted above the group of 4 missiles which are short-range infrared guided missiles FB (Flying Leopard)-10A used to destroy low flying targets.

According to a video released by the Chinese company CASIC, the LY-70 is able to fire on the move and identify multiple aerial targets at a maximum range of 90 km. The rear part of the LY-70 truck is fitted with a search and fire control radar. The LY-70 missiles can intercept targets at a maximum range of 40 km.

Thanks to its onboard air detection equipment and its active radar, the LY-70 is able to detect, search and lock targets. The missiles are guided by a tracking radar and a smaller EO/IR ((Electro-Optical/Infra-Red) camera.

The LY-70 can be used as an autonomous air defense system but it can also be added to other air defense systems and become part of the integrated air defense system. The LY-70 offers the advantage to carry more missiles than other mobile air defense systems available in the current military market.