The system, considered a budget-friendly rival to the US Patriot and Russia’s S-300, did not manage to identify or engage a single Indian aircraft or missile during the high-stakes confrontation.
The HQ-9’s performance raised serious red flags among military analysts and prospective foreign buyers. Rather than delivering the advertised multi-layered protection, the system appeared ineffective against India’s precision strikes. T
he issues may stem from broader flaws in detection systems, missile launch response times, or engagement protocols—problems far beyond a mere technical glitch.
India sidesteps Chinese tech
India revealed that its Air Force avoided Pakistani air defences altogether using sophisticated jamming and electronic warfare strategies.
Indian aircraft successfully executed strikes against multiple terror-linked targets inside Pakistan-controlled territory, all within a 23-minute window, without entering Pakistani airspace.Government statements stressed that India’s homemade air defence network played a critical role, especially during Pakistan’s retaliatory attempts involving missile and drone attacks. While Pakistan depended heavily on imported tools, India’s strategic use of its own technology and superior coordination outmatched every incoming threat.
Pakistan’s arsenal becomes China’s embarrassment
The operational breakdown of Chinese-supplied equipment has cast a shadow over Beijing’s status as an emerging defence exporter.
A significant portion of Pakistan’s military inventory—nearly four-fifths—comes from China. However, the systems deployed during this conflict, including long-range PL-15 missiles and HQ-9 batteries, fell short of expectations.
Of particular concern was the failure of the PL-15 missile, fired from Chinese-supplied J-10C fighters. These missiles, which China touts as capable of rivalling the American AIM-120D, missed their intended targets or malfunctioned mid-flight.
Blow to China’s export prospects
The poor performance of Chinese hardware didn’t just stay on the battlefield—it reverberated through stock markets.
Defence-sector stocks in China dropped as much as 9%, erasing recent gains driven by anticipated sales boosts amid India-Pakistan tensions. As satellite imagery and confirmed reports about the failures trickled in, investor confidence in China’s arms industry took a hit.
Nations in Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Southeast Asia that had considered purchasing Chinese systems like the HQ-9 may now reevaluate their options.
The weapons that looked viable on paper have proven unreliable under fire—at a time when many buyers prioritise combat-tested reliability over cost.
(With TOI inputs)
