A new type of self-propelled air defense system integrated with a rotary cannon and missile launchers affiliated with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) 71st Group Army fires during a live-fire exercise at an undisclosed location in 2024. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television

Themk Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army recently held live-fire shooting exercises with a new type of self-propelled air defense system integrated with a rotary cannon and missile launchers, with experts emphasizing the weapon's potential against drone threats.

In an exercise by air defense troops from a brigade affiliated with the PLA 71st Group Army, the newly commissioned missile-and-gun weapon system conducted simulated air defense training, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Tuesday.

The system is characterized by its high mobility, high accuracy and extended range, CCTV reported.

"This new weapon is equipped with a fire control system that can calculate the targets' trajectories based on their movement, achieving accurate tracking and guidance to successfully engage the targets," said Zhao Jiayi, a member of the brigade at the PLA 71st Group Army.

It has become a new layer of defense for the brigade's terminal air defense, Zhao said in the report.

In another recent live-fire tactical exercise, when multiple waves of different targets were approaching from multiple directions under a complex environment of electromagnetic interference, the troops rapidly reacted and conducted precision strikes against incoming aerial targets, CCTV reported.

The new equipment not only complements the terminal air defense against low-altitude, slow-moving, and small targets, but also establishes a mobile terminal air defense network for attack troops and support forces in systematic combat operations, said Liu Xinpo, another member of the brigade.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times that the new self-propelled missile-and-gun weapon system is needed in mobile and field air defense, because it can conduct interception operations while in motion. It can switch from using missiles against targets from far away and the gun against close-range and low-flying targets for the best results.

Typical low-flying, slow and small targets include rotary wing drones, as observed in recent regional conflicts. The new weapon has potential against drones, according to Fu.

With drones emerging as new threats in modern warfare, anti-aircraft guns remain a very important tool, particularly against swarms of drones, Fu said, noting that low-flying, slow and small targets such as drones have small radar cross sections, making them difficult to detect, and they are also too expensive to be intercepted using costly missiles.