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Pakistan has deployed Chinese made ground-to-air (SAM) LY-80, a medium range surface to air missile, for air defence of military bases.

Islamabad (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 24th March, 2019) Pakistan has deployed a new air defence system along the Pak-India border to secure its borders.

According to a report in an Indian news outlet, Pakistan has deployed Chinese made ground-to-air (SAM) LY-80, a medium range surface to air missile, for air defence of military bases.

LY-80 missiles from China, also called HQ-16, were included in the Pak Army in 2017. The Chinese made mobile air defence system LY-80 missiles can be easily moved from one place to another according to need and can hit any moving target up to 40 kilometres.

“Fearing attack from India in the future of greater intensity than Balakot, Pakistan is strengthening the security of its military establishments,” Indian media reported.

According to the report, the Pakistani army has 5 systems of IBIS-150 radars and LY-80 missiles. LY-80 is a Chinese mobile air defence system, which is capable of tracking and destroying a variety of aerial targets at longer ranges flying at low and medium altitude. The HQ-16 is produced by China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CPMIEC).

The LY-80 missiles system, which comprises IBIS-150 radar, is a 3D target search radar. They can track any target that comes from 150 kilometers away. It also has six-cell vertical missile-launchers. Each L-band tracking radar has a range of 85 km, and can detect up to six targets, of which it can track four. An HQ-16 battery comprises a tracking radar and four missile launchers.