Chinese LY-70 Short to Medium Range Mobile Air Defense Missile System—An Innovative Solution to New Era Problems

China’s state-owned defense giant, CASIC (China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation), has unveiled the LY-70, a groundbreaking mobile air defense system designed to dominate the modern battlefield. Paired with the FB-10A short-range missile, this combo redefines layered defense with unmatched flexibility, firepower, and mobility. Here’s a detailed, human-centric breakdown of its capabilities, drawing from technical manuals, expert interviews, and CASIC’s promotional material.

LY-70: CASIC’s Modular Powerhouse

The LY-70 is built on a rugged 6×6 military truck chassis, prioritizing rapid deployment and off-road agility. Unlike bulkier 8x8 systems, this design balances mobility with payload capacity, allowing it to navigate urban environments and rough terrains alike. The integrated hydraulic suspension system ensures stability during "shoot-and-scoot" operations, critical for evading counterattacks.

Missile Loadout: Quantity Meets Versatility

14 Ready-to-Fire Missiles: The LY-70 carries two distinct missile types in a unique configuration:

LY-70 (Falcon): Medium-range missiles stored in two pods of four each (8 total). These use active radar homing to engage targets up to 40 km away.

FB-10A (Flying Leopard): Short-range, infrared-guided missiles mounted in three clusters of two each (6 total), optimized for low-altitude threats like drones or helicopters within 18 km.

Fire-on-the-Move: CASIC’s promotional video

s highlight the system’s ability to launch missiles while repositioning—a rare feature that enhances survivability in dynamic combat.

Radar & Targeting; 90 km Detection Range: A rear-mounted rotating AESA radar provides 360° coverage, identifying threats like cruise missiles, fixed-wing aircraft, and precision-guided munitions.

Dual Guidance: The LY-70 combines tracking radar with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera for all-weather targeting. This dual-system approach reduces vulnerability to jamming; if radar is disrupted, the EO/IR camera maintains lock.

Networked Warfare: While operational as a standalone unit, the LY-70 seamlessly integrates with broader air defense grids, sharing data with HQ-9 or HQ-22 systems for coordinated strikes.

With 14 missiles—nearly double the capacity of rival systems like Russia’s Pantsir-S1—the LY-70 can sustain prolonged engagements without reloading, a decisive advantage against swarm attacks.

FB-10A: The Infrared Guardian ,The FB-10A serves as the LY-70’s close-in partner, focusing on threats that slip through long-range defenses: making it ideal for stealthy strikes against low-flying drones or helicopters.

Launch Flexibility: Mounted on the same 6x6 chassis, the FB-10A’s pods can be reloaded in under 15 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime.

Synergy in Combat: How the Duo Operates

Detection: The LY-70’s radar scans up to 90 km, classifying threats by type and trajectory.

Engagement: High-altitude targets (e.g., cruise missiles) are assigned to LY-70 missiles, while the FB-10A tackles low-altitude intruders.

Saturation Defense: During a swarm attack, both systems fire simultaneously—LY-70s at medium range, FB-10As mopping up “leakers.”

Reload & Reposition: The truck’s modular design allows crews to reload missiles or relocate within minutes, avoiding enemy counterfire.

The LY-70 is like a ‘plug-and-play’ system which can be deployed within minutes and its dual missile types let user adapt without waiting for reinforcements.”

Conclusion: Redefining Mobile Air Defense

The LY-70 isn’t just a missile truck—it is engineered for modern asymmetrical threats. By merging massive firepower, mobility, and networked intelligence, CASIC has crafted a system that challenges Western rivals. As drone warfare evolves, the LY-70/FB-10A offers unique capability to shoot fast, shoot smart, and keep moving.