Torch Technologies, a US defense contractor based in Alabama, is creating full-scale replicas of China’s HQ-22 surface-to-air missile (SAM) system for the US Air Force (USAF). The replicas won’t be armed but will accurately reproduce the radar signature, heat emissions, and battlefield behaviors of the real system. This will allow pilots and EW operators to train against authentic threat simulations without risk. The HQ-22, often compared to the US Patriot and Russian S-300, has a range of up to 170 km (105 miles) and can target aircraft, drones, ballistic and cruise missiles. Serbia has also adopted the export model, FK-3. This is not the first replica: in July 2025, an HQ-16 surrogate was showcased in Wisconsin for pilot training. Such replicas are meant to improve familiarity with Chinese weapons and hone countermeasures.
