Munitions

HQ-61B

Also known as
  • HQ61B
  • HQ-61
  • Hongqi-61
  • Hongqi-61B
  • Hungchi-61
  • RF-61
  • SD-1
  • Model Type 571
  • CSA-N-2

HQ-61B is the naval shipboard member of China's HQ-61 / Hongqi-61 short-range surface-to-air missile family. Open references associate the same family with RF-61, SD-1, Model Type 571, and NATO reporting name CSA-N-2, while distinguishing the HQ-61A ground system from the HQ-61B naval fit installed on Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I-class frigates.

HQ-61B, Short-range ship-launched surface-to-air missile, Munitions
Image source: Sea Forces: Type-053H2G Jiangwei I-class frigate
Profile / Specs

Specifications

Guidance
Semi-active radar homing with radio command guidance
Propulsion
Solid rocket motor
Speed
Reported maximum Mach 3
Range
Reported 2.5-10 km
Launcher
1x6 shipboard launcher on the Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I-class frigates
Fire control
Type 342 illuminator with Type 343 or 345 fit on the class
Variants

Open references treat HQ-61 / Hongqi-61 as a family spanning shipboard and land-mobile surface-to-air missile systems. This record covers the naval HQ-61B / RF-61 / CSA-N-2 designation.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
HQ-61AGround-mobile surface-to-air missile system

GlobalSecurity describes HQ-61A as the Army ground-to-air version developed with maximum commonality from the ship-to-air missile work.

Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61A / Army Development

RF-61Shipboard alternate designation

GlobalSecurity includes RF-61 among the HQ-61 family labels and describes the shipborne HQ-61B launcher, fire-control, radar, missile, and rotary ammunition depot arrangement.

Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / RF-61 / SD-1 / Model Type 571 / CSA-N-2

Launch Platforms

The HQ-61B naval fit was associated with the Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I frigates. Converted coast guard hulls are useful survivor context, but sources indicate the HQ-61 launcher was removed during conversion.

LauncherLauncher typeLaunch evidence
Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I-class frigate, Guided-missile frigate and converted patrol vessel class, Naval SystemsType 053H2G / Jiangwei I-class frigateOriginal shipboard launch platform

Weaponsystems.net and Sea Forces list the Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I class with a 1x6 HQ-61 or HQ-61B launcher, making the class the clearest catalog platform for the naval missile fit.

Sources: Weaponsystems.net: Type-053H2G class, Sea Forces: Type-053H2G Jiangwei I-class frigate

Haijing 2202, China Coast Guard patrol cutter, Naval SystemsHaijing 2202Former Type 053H2G hull

Haijing 2202 is a linked example of a former Type 053H2G hull after coast guard conversion; GlobalSecurity reports that converted ships had the Red Flag-61 / HQ-61 launcher removed.

Sources: GlobalSecurity: Haijing 31239

Shipboard Fit And Successor Context

Open naval references tie HQ-61B to the Type 053H2G / Jiangwei I frigate fit rather than to later Chinese frigates. The documented shipboard arrangement was a single six-cell HQ-61 launcher on the Type 053H2G class, while the follow-on Type 053H3 / Jiangwei II-class frigate moved to HQ-7 for local air defense.

Launcher fit

Type 053H2G sources list one six-cell HQ-61 or HQ-61B launcher in the frigate combat fit.

Converted hulls

Former Type 053H2G ships converted for China Coast Guard service are documented without the HQ-61 launcher.

Visual coverage

The gallery keeps exact-fit Type 053H2G ship images and adds a licensed museum photo of HQ-61 missiles as missile-family context.

Timeline

HQ-61B Key Events

  1. Medium- and low-altitude SAM work requested

    Chinese authorities requested a medium- and low-altitude surface-to-air missile study that later became part of the Hongqi-61 / HQ-61 program.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

  2. Hongqi-61 designation adopted

    GlobalSecurity reports that the earlier Hongqi-41 concept was placed in national planning and redesignated Hongqi-61 / HQ-61 before pre-development work continued.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

  3. Ship-to-air work assigned

    The Central Military Commission directed the modification of Hongqi-61 into a ship-to-air missile, with Shanghai No.2 Bureau of Machinery and Electronics responsible for development.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

  4. Shipborne concept finalized

    The Navy, the No.7 Academy of the 6th Ministry of Machine Building, and Shanghai No.2 Bureau of Machinery and Electronics finalized the shipborne concept and began HQ-61 ship-to-air missile development work.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

  5. Shipboard sea tests reported

    GlobalSecurity reports successful shipboard sea tests in November-December 1986 against guided and aircraft targets.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

  6. Design certification approved

    The State Council and Central Military Commission military product certification authorities approved the HQ-61 design, and GlobalSecurity says the formal naval form was named HQ-61B.

    Sources: GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy Development

Media

HQ-61B Images

HQ-61B, Short-range ship-launched surface-to-air missile, Munitions - view 1
Source: Sea Forces: Type-053H2G Jiangwei I-class frigate
HQ-61B, Short-range ship-launched surface-to-air missile, Munitions - view 2
Source: Wikimedia Commons: Pair of HQ-61 missiles
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Sources

GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / RF-61 / SD-1 / Model Type 571 / CSA-N-2Publisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports HQ-61 family background, ship-launched guidance, launcher fit, and technical specifications for the naval missile family. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GlobalSecurity: HQ-61 / Navy DevelopmentPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports HQ-61 development history, Shanghai No.2 Bureau of Machinery and Electronics responsibility, and the HQ-61B 6-cell launcher fit on Type 053H2G frigates. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GlobalSecurity: HQ-61A / Army DevelopmentPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports HQ-61A as the Army ground-to-air version developed from the ship-to-air missile work. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Weaponsystems.net: Type-053H2G classPublisher: WeaponSystems.net | Note: Supports the Type 053H2G class weapon fit, including the 1x6 HQ-61B short-range surface-to-air missile arrangement. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GlobalSecurity: Type 053H2G Jiangwei frigates specificationsPublisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports the Type 053H2G / Jiangwei armament fit with one HQ-61 sextuple launcher and the Jiangwei II follow-on fit with HQ-7. | Accessed: 2026-07-02GlobalSecurity: Haijing 31239Publisher: GlobalSecurity.org | Note: Supports China Coast Guard conversion context for former Type 053H2G hulls and reports removal of the Red Flag-61 / HQ-61 launcher from converted ships. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Sea Forces: Type-053H2G Jiangwei I-class frigatePublisher: Sea Forces | Note: Supports image provenance for the Type 053H2G class page photo showing the HQ-61 SAM fit and broader class background. | Accessed: 2026-07-02Wikimedia Commons: Pair of HQ-61 missilesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for an open-license PLA Naval Museum photograph of HQ-61 missiles; used as missile-family gallery context rather than as a shipboard HQ-61B launcher image. | Accessed: 2026-07-02