The Bangladesh Army is carrying out upgrades and overhauls on its existing FM-90 SHORAD systems to extend the life of the missiles held in its inventory and improve its operational performances.
The respective authorities are working with the Chinese suppliers to ensure the overhauling and upgrades are carried out in Bangladesh jointly by the Army’s EME workshop and Chinese technical experts.
China is transferring critical technologies including missile system overhauling equipment and spare parts to the Bangladesh Army.
Bangladesh Army is building various types of maintenance and manufacturing facilities to support the standardised equipment in its inventory. This program is a part of the plan to reduce reliance on foreign companies for general maintenance and overhauling activities.
FM-90 in service with the Bangladesh military
China National Precision Machinery Import and Export (CNPMIEC) supplied the FM-90 to the Bangladesh Navy, followed by adoption by the Air Force and lastly the Bangladesh Army.
The FM-90 system, mounted on a 6×6 chassis, is an enhanced version of the Hong Qi, a missile developed by China National Precision Machinery Import and Export (CNPMIEC) in 1998. Mobile all-weather, short-range, anti-aircraft missile system HQ-7 (HongQi-7, Huntsi-7, Red Banner-7, export designation – FM-80) was designed to destroy targets flying at low and extremely low altitudes. Creation of the HongQi-7 SAM system began in 1979. The system, which is a localized copy of the French Crotale SAM system, was developed at the Second Aerospace Academy of China (now the Chinese Academy of Defence Technology/CADT). CADT is part of China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation. Institute 23 has developed the control system and radar facilities of the complex, Institute 206 – ground equipment.
The export version of the HQ-7 SAM system under the designation FM-80 was first demonstrated at the Dubai Air Show in 1989. Later in 1998, China National Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CNPMIEC) introduced an improved version of the complex designated FM-90 (HQ-7B).
In comparison with the prototype, the serial FM-90 system uses a new dual-band guidance radar instead of monopulse Type-345. The information processing unit is based on super large integrated circuits (developed by Institute 706). The transition to a fully digital information processing instead of analogue one allowed to significantly increase the noise immunity of the complex in conditions of active and passive interference. A thermal imaging camera was integrated into the optoelectronic tracking system to provide for firing at night, and the complex was equipped with a radio communication system, which provides information exchange between the combat control point and launchers, similar to the Crotale “series 4000” SAM system. The rocket engine uses an improved solid propellant charge, which significantly increased the range of flight, upgraded the fuse and control system equipment.
With a maximum range of 25 km, the FM-90 can simultaneously attack three targets using different guidance modes. According to the developers, the probability of hitting a typical target with a single missile is from 80 to 90%, while the probability of hitting a two-missile salvo is 96%. The system is able to intercept targets at extremely low altitudes, as well as anti-radar missiles and air-to-surface cruise missiles at a distance of up to 17 km. The system features a radar with a range of 25 kilometers and can be fired against ultra-low-altitude cruise missiles, air-to-surface missiles, and anti-radiation missiles at a range of more than 17 kilometers.
For greater capabilities against active/passive jamming, the ground-based air defence weapon system includes a VLSI-based computer, two-waveband tracking radar, an infrared camera, and digital electronic technologies.