Original Chinese Yugoslav Wars Era Hongjian HJ-8 Anti-Tank Missile Launcher Tube with Endcaps - Dated 1995 - Inert

Original Item. Only One Available. The HJ-8 or Hongjian-8 (Chinese: 红箭-8; pinyin: Hóng Jiàn-8; lit. 'Red Arrow-8') is a second generation tube-launched, optically tracked, wire-guided anti-tank missile system which was originally deployed by the People's Liberation Army in the late 1980s. The HJ-8 series is China's first indigenous anti-tank missile design and it can be considered an equivalent of the US BGM-71 TOW and Franco-German MILAN / Euromissile HOT anti-tank missiles. HJ-8 is a tube-launched, optically tracked and wire-guided missile system armed with a HEAT anti-tank warhead.

The launcher tube is totally inert and incapable of firing, as it is a single use non-reloadable item. Used launchers such as this are "expended ordnance" which "are not classified as a "firearm" or "destructive device"" by the BATF once used, and "therefore, they are not subject to GCA or NFA provisions."

NOT AVAILABLE FOR EXPORT. NOT AVAILABLE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS.

This is a great example of an HJ-8 tube which retains both of its endcaps, with one still being removable. This end is removed by undoing and removing the latch, which does act a bit “spring-loaded” so proceed with caution. With both endcaps on, the tube measures 61¾” tall with a 6¼” diameter for the tube itself. When looking inside the tube, we can see that there’s a small bit of intact wiring on the other end, as well as a stamped serial number, 0691070.

The launcher has several markings, including a 95 between Chinese characters, which we believe to denote a manufacture date of 1995. There is another string of numbers reading 01-91-22, but this likely is not a date.

The launcher retains its original sling. A great example, ready for further research and display!

The HJ-8 is a combination many experts believe of three Western antitank missile systems obtained from nations in the Middle East and Asia that were then examined, reverse engineered and modified: the tripod from the US BGM-71 TOW; the tracker-control unit from the French/German MILAN; and the missile from the UK Swingfire.

There are numerous improved models following the original HJ-8, designated HJ-8A to HJ-8H, each incorporating improved features over the previous model. HJ-8E entered service in mid-1990. The HJ-8E anti-tank missile weighs 24.5 kg, has a range of up to 4,000 m, and can also defeat explosive reactive armour (ERA). It can penetrate 800–1100 mm of RHA at 0° incidence / 180+ mm RHA at 68° incidence.

Designed to be both dependable and accurate, HJ-8 is now the standard anti-tank armament of the Z-9W, Mi-17, and Gazelle (replacing the original Euromissile HOT first carried) helicopter gunships of the PLA.