The PGZ04A (Chinese: PGZ04(A)式25毫米弹炮结合防空武器系统; lit. 25 mm missile-gun AA system) is an upgraded version of the existing PGZ95 fleet in the PLAGF. This new version features new MANPADS, replacing the earlier QW-2 MAPNPADS, and currently serves as the close-range interception layer of the PLA's anti-air defense system.
The development of the PGZ95 can be traced back to the 1980s when the PLAGF was in desperate need of a new SPAA system. Earlier plans involved reverse-engineering Egyptian ZSU-23-4s, which had already been obtained by Mainland China through bi-directional arms trade. However, when an observer team arrived in Italy and discovered the SIDAM 25, the PLAGF quickly abandoned the ZSU-23-4 plans and instead planned for a better SPAA system with all-weather combat capabilities. The new SPAA system was extensively tested in the 1990s and made its first appearance at the 50th National Day Parade (1999).
Introduced in Update "Red Skies" along with the PGZ09, the PGZ04A is a unique SPAA vehicle with a gun-missile armament. The layout of its turret quite resembles the Italian SIDAM 25, but unlike the radarless SIDAM it has a search radar mounted on the top that makes it much easier to acquire targets, as well as thermal optics for easier spotting. The quadruple 25 mm cannons previously seen on the ZSD63 are bored-out derivatives of the Soviet Shilka's guns with a slower rate of fire, higher muzzle velocity, and greater armour penetration. Although the PGZ04A's electronics, mobility, and ground attack capability are inferior to the newer PGZ09, its main selling point comes from a quartet of HN-6 MANPADS launchers mounted right above the guns. The HN-6 is slightly better in performance than the common Stingers used by contemporary SPAA and forces enemy aircraft to stay on their toes even outside of cannon range.
Ammunition | Type | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
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10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
SAM | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
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10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
AP-T/FI-T | 63 | 61 | 51 | 41 | 33 | 27 | |
FI-T | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | |
AP-T | 63 | 61 | 51 | 41 | 33 | 27 |
Mobility | |
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Protection |
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Firepower | |
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