China successfully test-fires air-to-ground missile for military helicopters
- Long range stand-off weapon is first of its kind for People’s Liberation Army
- Missile can be used to attack ground targets, moving vehicles and even ships
China has successfully developed and tested an advanced air-to-ground missile for helicopters, according to state media.
The new weapon was put through its paces at a desert location in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region in late June, when it was fired from a helicopter and hit its intended target, China Aviation News reported.
The missile, whose name and specifications were not revealed, is a stand-off weapon, meaning it can be launched from a distance sufficient to allow attacking personnel to evade defensive fire.
It was developed by the China Helicopter Research and Development Institute, a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, and although the project was delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is now back on schedule, the report said.