China has reportedly transferred its HQ-9B air protection system to Iran. This transfer has attracted worldwide consideration, particularly contemplating the system’s troubled historical past in Pakistan. The switch, believed to be a commerce for oil, comes as Iran goals to strengthen its air defenses towards regional threats.
The HQ-9B is a long-range air protection system designed in China. It takes inspiration from Russia’s S-300 and consists of some American and Israeli applied sciences. The system is constructed to intercept aerial threats, together with enemy plane, drones, cruise missiles, and a few ballistic missiles. It makes use of radar to find targets after which launches its personal missiles to destroy them mid-air. The HQ-9B can interact 8 to 10 targets directly inside a spread of 250 to 300 km.
Pakistan’s Troubled Expertise With HQ-9B
Pakistan built-in the HQ-9B into its navy in 2021, selling it as a robust instrument towards India’s rising air energy, which incorporates Rafale jets and BrahMos missiles. Nonetheless, the system has carried out poorly on a number of events, most notably throughout India’s “Operation Sindoor” in Could 2025.
Throughout “Operation Sindoor,” India carried out precision strikes on terrorist targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). These strikes concerned superior weaponry, together with BrahMos missiles, French SCALP cruise missiles, and Israeli Harop drones. Regardless of the HQ-9B’s presence, it reportedly didn’t intercept any of those threats. Reviews indicated that the Indian assaults have been so exact that in addition they destroyed an HQ-9B battery close to Lahore.
The system’s failures prolonged past “Operation Sindoor.” In 2024, when Iran focused Pakistan’s Balochistan with missile and drone strikes, the HQ-9B once more confirmed no response.
A number of causes are put ahead for the HQ-9B’s failures in Pakistan:
Lack Of Coaching: Pakistani navy personnel could not have acquired ample coaching to function the advanced system.
Jamming And Stealth Know-how: India’s use of digital warfare and stealth missiles might need evaded or confused the HQ-9B’s radar.
Technical Limitations: Some consultants believed the HQ-9B might not be totally able to intercepting high-velocity missiles, just like the BrahMos.
Upkeep Points: The system’s excessive upkeep prices and attainable shortages of spare components in Pakistan may have harm its operational readiness.
These repeated failures led to vital criticism in Pakistan and even on Chinese language social media, the place the Pakistani navy was described as “mute spectators,” and the reliability of the HQ-9B was questioned.
China’s Strategic Switch To Iran
The information of China transferring the HQ-9B system to Iran got here out in July 2025. This deal appears to be an alternate for oil, as US sanctions forestall Iran from making money funds.
Why Iran Wants Air Protection: Iran faces critical geopolitical challenges and threats from highly effective adversaries, corresponding to Israel and america. Current Israeli airstrikes on Iranian websites have highlighted the necessity for Iran to enhance its air protection techniques. The HQ-9B may supply important long-range aerial protection.
Advantages For China:
Safe Oil Provide: The deal provides China a gradual and probably discounted provide of oil, which is important for its economic system.
Increasing Arms Market: China goals to extend its market presence within the arms commerce. Offering the HQ-9B to Iran helps set up a foothold within the unstable Center East.
Repute Administration: The HQ-9B’s poor efficiency in Pakistan broken China’s credibility in protection expertise. Deploying it in Iran permits Beijing to showcase the system’s effectiveness, significantly towards refined Western navy expertise.
Israeli Issues: Israel has expressed worries about this deal, because the HQ-9B may considerably enhance Iran’s capacity to counter aerial threats.
Prospects For HQ-9B In Iran And India’s Place
It stays unsure whether or not the HQ-9B will carry out higher in Iran. Its previous failures in Pakistan don’t essentially point out that it’s ineffective general. Its success in Iran will rely upon a number of elements:
Coaching And Upkeep: Iran might want to guarantee thorough coaching for its personnel and will depend on China for upkeep and spare components.
Adversary Know-how: Each Israel and the U.S. have stealth plane and superior missiles that may evade the HQ-9B’s radar techniques.
Operational Integration: Iran’s capacity to successfully combine and use the system inside its current protection framework might be important.
For India, this growth may elevate considerations, particularly given the advanced nature of India-Iran relations. If Iran efficiently deploys the HQ-9B, it may shift the stability of energy within the Center East. Nonetheless, India’s personal robust air protection techniques, together with the S-400 and Akash missile techniques, are designed to counter a variety of aerial threats, positioning it to deal with any potential implications.