Pakistan: first fire of LY-80 Lomads air defense missile.

The Pakistan Army Air Defence displayed its fire power capability at the Air Defence firing range near Karachi. Hallmark of the event was the first ever fire by recently inductedChinese-made long-range air defence weapon system LY-80 Lomads, also named HQ-16A in China. Induction of LY-80 has realized the concept of a comprehensive, layered and integrated air defence capability with enhanced lethality.

Chinese-made LY-80 Lomads air defence missile launcher in service in the Pakistan army displayed at IDEAS 2018 (Picture source: CACDS)

Commander Karachi Corps, Commander Army Air Defence Command and number of other senior commanders and principal staff officers also witnessed the event. Firing by all air defence weapon systems was culminating event of two weeks long Exercise Al Bayza-2019.

Interacting with the officers and troops, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa congratulated the Army Air Defence for successful conduct of firepower capability display. He said that LY-80 weapon system would strengthen national defence. CAS Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan also congratulated Pakistan Army for induction of LY 80 which has reinforced Pakistan’s overall Air Defence capability, reads the statement.

The LY-80 has been described as a ‘ready to fire’ system which can shoot down modern fighter jets, cruise missiles, and drones. With 40 km range, the weapon system has the capability of engaging as many as six targets simultaneously at a height of 50,000 feet. The system has search radar with a range of 150 km and guidance radar with a range of 100 km. It consists of a command vehicle, firing vehicles, an electronic and support vehicle, missile transport vehicle, and a power supply vehicle. One LY-80 battery can provide defence cover to as much as 8,000 square km.

Radar vehicle associated to the LY-80 Lomads air defense missile launcher (Picture source: CACDS)