Bangladesh Army test-fires CS/AA3 anti-aircraft guns

The CS/AA3 gun – pictured above in service with the Cameroonian Defence Forces – has a maximum slant range of 11 km, but its effective slant range is 4 km and effective altitude is 3 km. (Cameroon Ministry of Defence)

The Bangladesh Army's Adhoc 57 Air Defence (AD) Regiment Artillery test-fired two CS/AA3 twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun systems for the first time during a firing exercise held in mid-March at Inanistha AD Firing Range in Cox's Bazar.

According to a press release by Bangladesh Armed Forces' media and public relations wing Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR) in mid-March, the system is capable of hitting ground and air targets at a maximum strike range of 4 km.

The test fire confirms the induction of the systems – manufactured by China North Industries Group Corporation Limited (Norinco) – in the Bangladesh Army. The ISPR imagery suggests the induction of at least three CS/AA3 systems into the service.

The CS/AA3 – known as PG99 in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) service – is intended to intercept low and slow-flying threats such as close air support aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The system is a low-altitude, short-range air-defence (SHORAD) weapon and is a licence-produced version of Switzerland's Oerlikon GDF-002.

According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Artillery & Air Defence, the system comprises a 35 mm twin-barrel anti-aircraft gun mounted on a two-axle towed trailer, a power generator, and a fire-control unit (FCU).

The cannons of the gun are chambered in a 35×228 mm cartridge – fed from 7-round clips – which are capable of firing a variety of ammunition natures, including the Norinco 35 mm Programmable Time Fuze Pre-fragmented (PTFP) round.