The HQ-19 (simplified Chinese: 红旗-19; traditional Chinese: 紅旗-19; pinyin: Hóng Qí-19; lit. 'Red Banner-19', NATO reporting name: CH-AB-2) is an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) and anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) system developed by the People's Republic of China.[1][2] It's a variant of the HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile system. The HQ-19 system is designed to counter medium-range ballistic missiles. It targets ballistic missiles in their midcourse and terminal phases, comparable to the US THAAD.[3] The missile may have "begun preliminary operations" by 2018.[4]