In mid February 2016, a satellite image (at "A." below was publicised which revealed Chinese surface-to-air (SAM) missiles on Woody Island, in the disputed Paracel Island group, in the South China Sea. The SAMs are apparently HQ-9 surface-to-air (SAMs) (exact variant unknown) with a published range of about 125 miles (200 kms) but probably less.
These missiles, which may be only on Woody temporarily, only augment several J-11 interceptor aircraft that have been based at Woody's airport for months and Chinese warships (armed with SAMs) which have plied the Paracels for years.
These missiles, which may be only on Woody temporarily, only augment several J-11 interceptor aircraft that have been based at Woody's airport for months and Chinese warships (armed with SAMs) which have plied the Paracels for years.
A. The satellite image "A." of the HQ-9 missiles in question (above). They may be on the north of Woody Island near the anti-aircraft-artillery "AAA" site marked on the satellite view "B." (below).
These missiles and radars are sitting on trucks on a Woody Island beach. This would only be a temporary siting due to the wear-and-tear of sand, sun and salt on the missile casings, trucks and delicate radars. This may suggest that these missiles have been revealed by China, Taiwan and the US for political reasons coinciding with Obama's-ASEAN Sunnyland's meeting (mid Feb 2016) and to a far lesser extent Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s visit to Beijing.
B. Woody Island South China Sea. China calls it Yongxing Island. (This satellite image courtesy Digital Globe via defencetalk(dot)net)
---
---
However there has been a threat a threat to overflights for a long time from Chinese air warfare capable destroyers (with long range HHQ-9A SAMs) and frigates (with HQ-7 SAMs).
A newer threat to overflights has come from late model Chinese Shenyang J-11 BH/BHS fighters based at Woody Island since November 2015. The J-11s carry air-to-air missiles that could shoot down overflying aircraft. The missiles, like the J-11 jets might only be rotated through Woody Island during times politically advantageous to China and just before FONOPs overflights. Still, even temporary threats from these anti-aircraft weapons constitute a threat. Mistakes can be made. Near misses and collisions, particularly from J-11 jets, can occur.
Woody Island already sits in a highly congested strategic area bristling with weapons. So a staged show of missiles on a beach is only an additional threat, not a game changer.
Woody Island already sits in a highly congested strategic area bristling with weapons. So a staged show of missiles on a beach is only an additional threat, not a game changer.
Pete