Meet the modern CS/SA5 Chinese air defense system coming to War Thunder in the next major update!
CS/SA5: An SPAA (SAM) for China at Rank VIII
At a glance:
- Rapid-fire 30 mm cannon
- FB-10A missiles
- Good top speed
- Large in size
Vehicle History
The PLB625E is a representative of the latest generation of air defense systems for the People’s Liberation Army of China. First unveiled at the Zhuhai Air Show in 2016, after six years of demonstration tests and numerous assessments with different chassis, it was finally accepted into service in 2022. The turret is highly versatile and can be mounted onto various platforms, including standard 8x8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, specialized 6x6 chassis, as well as the ZBD04 IFV.
In real life, the PLB625E fire control is modular, from the radar to optics to the main armament and missile system — all components can be replaced or configured depending on what is needed in the field. Thanks to a fully-fledged data exchange system, even if the radar is damaged or missing, the PLB625E is able to track and hit targets using information from other systems. The export version of this vehicle is called the CS/SA-5 and is offered on the international market by the Norinco Corporation. It differs from PLA version as it features a different rotary cannon — 30 mm on the export variant compared to the 25 mm gun on the domestic one.
Introducing the CS/SA5!
The next major update is going to please many players with new end of the line SAM vehicles! What better way to introduce them than with the CS/SA5 for China, which is based on a wheeled 8x8 chassis. Read on for the specifics!
The CS/SA5 is the latest air defense system developed by China. On each side of the unmanned turret are four launchers (eight in total) that feature the FB-10A anti-aircraft missile. These are all-aspect, short-range missiles that are resistant to IR countermeasures. That’s not all though, as in addition to air defense missiles, the CS/SA5 is armed with a beefy 30 mm cannon in the middle of the turret, which can be highly effective against planes and helicopters. This cannon can also take out modern MBTs from the side or rear thanks to the available armor-piercing belt!
Right, so we’ve got the weaponry covered, let’s move onto the chassis. The CS/SA5 uses an 8x8 wheeled chassis that can reach a top speed of over 90 km/h on flat roads, making it more than capable of reaching positions in a timely manner. In terms of the internal layout, it’s certainly interesting — at the front is the engine, two crew members are located in the cabin area, and two more are in the fighting compartment closer to the back. This is because the entire space in the middle of the vehicle is occupied by the ammunition stowage for the 30 mm cannon.
The CS/SA5’s armor is light and can counter shrapnel and high-caliber machine guns at longer distances and high impact angles. This vehicle is also large in size and gets even bigger when the radar antenna on the turret roof is working. Make sure to keep this in mind when playing this thing; you’re going to be spotted quite easily by tanks and aircraft.
That’s this one wrapped. The CS/SA5 is set to become China’s new air defense vehicle at rank VIII with the release of the next major update. You’ll be able to play the CS/SA5 as an air defense system to take down aircraft, helping to support your allies. Or you can also play as a quasi support tank thanks to the 30 mm cannon to be a nuisance to enemy tanks. Check out our website for more blogs coming your way!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
