(VIDEO) In a First, Palestinian Fighters Strike Israeli Armored Vehicle with Chinese-Made Missiles

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — For the first time since the conflict between Palestine and Israel escalated nine months ago, Hamas fighters have showcased their Chinese-made anti-tank missile system, which they have used to target Israeli armored vehicles.

 Previously, it was unknown that Hamas possessed the Chinese-developed anti-tank missile system, created by NORINCO, a state-owned arms manufacturer.

In a video released by Hamas, the footage shows its fighters employing the Chinese-made HJ-8L Red Arrow anti-tank missile against the Israeli armored vehicle “Namer.”

The video captures the moment the Israeli armored vehicle bursts into flames after being struck by the Chinese-made missile.

The attack involving the anti-tank missile by Hamas fighters on the Israeli armored vehicle reportedly occurred in Rafah, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip.

 Following the missile strike and subsequent fire on the Israeli “Namer” armored vehicle, an Israeli Caterpillar 966G was seen attempting to extinguish the fire with sand.

To date, the Israeli military has not commented on the incident.

The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 is a second-generation anti-tank guided missile system that is wire-guided and optically tracked, launched from a tube.

First deployed by the Chinese army in the late 1980s, the HJ-8L Red Arrow is considered comparable to Western anti-tank systems like the American BGM-71 TOW and the European Euromissile HOT.

The HJ-8L Red Arrow has been used in various conflicts including those in Yugoslavia, Sudan, and Sri Lanka.

Equipped with a HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead, the Chinese-made system incorporates elements from Western anti-tank guided missile systems.

Analysts have noted that the tripod system of the Chinese anti-tank missile mimics the American TOW system, while the tracker-control unit draws inspiration from the European MILAN system and the British Swingfire missile.

The HJ-8L Red Arrow system weighs a total of 24kg and can engage targets up to 4,000 meters away.

 

The HJ-8L Red Arrow, also produced in Pakistan under the name “Bakhtar Shikan,” is a variant of the Chinese anti-tank missile system.

 It is known that the “Bakhtar Shikan” system is also used by the Malaysian Army.

In 1970, China’s armored corps first proposed to develop a successor to HJ-73 and this was later approved, designated as the AFT-8 or HJ-8. 

The missile was jointly developed by Research Institute 203 and 282nd Factory, but the program was interrupted by political turmoil.

Development was not completed until the early 1980s, after the end of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. After receiving state certification, the missile entered mass-production in 1984.

HJ-8 and its variants are manufactured by NORINCO’s Factory 282 (Jiangnan Machine Factory—江南机器厂), Factory 5618 (Hunan South China Photoelectricity Instrument Plant—湖南华南光电仪器厂) of China and Khan Research Laboratories of Pakistan,^[now by GIDS. — DSA