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Pakistan Leverages Its Alliance With China to Counter India’s Air Power.
As military tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated in recent days, Islamabad continues to strengthen its defensive posture by relying on a range of air defense systems supplied by China. The confrontation, which began with an attack in India and was then fueled by artillery exchanges in Kashmir, armed drone overflights, and several mutual airspace violations, revives the specter of a conventional conflict between the two nuclear-armed powers. In this context, the modernization of Pakistan’s air defense has become a strategic priority. Pakistan now relies on a layered network composed of the HQ-9P, HQ-9BE, FD-2000, HQ-16FE, as well as older systems such as the LY-80 and FM-90, to build an aerial shield against Indian air superiority.
The HQ-9 air defense missile systems are attached to a surface-to-air missile brigade of the air force under the PLA Central Theater Command (Picture source: Chinese MoD)
The HQ-9P system today constitutes one of the pillars of Pakistan’s air defense. Introduced by the army in 2021, it is a derivative of the Russian S-300 system, developed by the Chinese company CPMIEC with Moscow's agreement. Equipped with an HT-233 3D phased-array radar, it can track up to 100 targets and simultaneously engage between 8 and 10. Its estimated range is 125 kilometers against aircraft and about 25 kilometers against cruise missiles. This system uses a Track-Via-Missile (TVM) guidance method, combining inertial navigation, mid-course corrections, and active radar homing in the terminal phase. Deployed around sensitive sites such as Rawalpindi and Karachi, the HQ-9P provides credible deterrence capabilities but remains limited in range compared to Russian standards.
Additionally, the Pakistan Air Force deploys the HQ-9BE, a more recent and enhanced variant, with a maximum range of up to 260 kilometers against combat aircraft and 25 kilometers against tactical ballistic missiles. Capable of intercepting targets at speeds up to Mach 14, the HQ-9BE represents a significant upgrade, featuring the JSG-400 target designation radar and the JPG-600 surveillance radar, supported by advanced electronic counter-countermeasures. Its limited anti-ballistic capability, however, places it behind India's S-400 system in overall effectiveness.
The FD-2000, an export version of the HQ-9A, is also operational within the Pakistan Air Force. Designed to engage multiple aerial targets and low-flying cruise missiles simultaneously, it relies on the HT-233 radar and has a range of 125 kilometers against aircraft. Compared to the American Patriot PAC-3, the FD-2000 offers broader coverage at a lower cost, although its proximity-fused warhead reduces its effectiveness against certain ballistic threats.
To reinforce its medium-range defense, Pakistan has integrated the HQ-16FE, an improved version of the HQ-16 (or LY-80), developed based on the Russian Buk missile system. This system offers a range of 160 kilometers and an interception altitude of 27 kilometers. It uses a 2D active electronically scanned array radar with a surveillance range of 250 kilometers, capable of tracking twelve targets and engaging eight simultaneously. With its combined semi-active and active radar homing guidance, the HQ-16FE effectively complements the HQ-9BE, ensuring seamless coverage between defense layers.
These various systems are integrated into Pakistan’s CLIAD (Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence) architecture, developed by the army to coordinate surveillance, command, and control across multiple radar and missile layers (Picture source: @Defence_IDA X Channel )
Older but still in service within certain units, the LY-80 (or HQ-16A) provides coverage between 40 and 70 kilometers and can intercept targets flying at speeds of up to Mach 2.5. Paired with IBS-150 radars, it remains effective against subsonic threats. At shorter range, the FM-90, derived from the Chinese HQ-7 and inspired by the French Crotale system, continues to be used with a 15-kilometer engagement range. It employs command-to-line-of-sight radar guidance, sufficient against drones or helicopters but vulnerable to modern missiles like the Meteor or BrahMos.
These various systems are integrated into Pakistan’s CLIAD (Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defence) architecture, developed by the army to coordinate surveillance, command, and control across multiple radar and missile layers. Regular exercises, such as Al-Bayza, are held to test this integration. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop indigenous capabilities, notably through the LoMADS and FAAZ-SL programs, although these remain at an early stage.
In comparison, India fields a far more advanced air defense system, centered around the Russian S-400 Triumf, complemented by multiple national and Israeli-origin layers. Delivered starting in December 2021, the S-400 offers a detection range of 600 kilometers and an engagement range of up to 400 kilometers, employing four types of missiles: the 40N6 for very long-range targets, the 48N6E3 for medium-range aerial and missile threats, and the 9M96E/9M96E2 for highly maneuverable targets. Capable of tracking 100 targets and simultaneously engaging 36, the S-400 provides India with formidable in-depth air defense.
The S-400 units, now renamed "Sudarshan," have been deployed on both the Chinese and Pakistani fronts. In July 2024, a military exercise demonstrated their effectiveness, achieving an 80% success rate against simulated targets. This capability is reinforced by complementary systems such as Akash (30–70 km range), Barak-8 (70–100 km range), QRSAM (25–30 km range), SPYDER (15–35 km range), and SR-SAM, offering comprehensive national airspace coverage. Additionally, most Indian radars are based on AESA technology, providing significant advantages in detection, resilience against electronic countermeasures, and simultaneous multi-target tracking.
In comparison, India fields a far more advanced air defense system, centered around the Russian S-400 Triumf, complemented by multiple national and Israeli-origin layers (Picture source: Vitaly V.Kuzmin)
This layered architecture enables India to manage a two-front challenge against China and Pakistan while ensuring credible conventional deterrence. Furthermore, the “Make in India” program has allowed the local development of Akash and QRSAM missiles, reducing dependence on imports and securing logistical continuity during prolonged conflicts.
Despite Chinese support, Pakistan remains disadvantaged on several fronts: detection range, number of simultaneous engagements, radar coverage, and operational experience. While the HQ-9BE and HQ-16FE offer significant capabilities, their effectiveness against saturation attacks or stealth strikes remains uncertain. Moreover, although China and Turkey themselves operate the S-400 and could share sensitive insights into its weaknesses, this would not be sufficient to offset the broader technological gap.
As the Indo-Pakistani conflict enters an uncertain and potentially escalating phase, air defense is becoming a central component of bilateral deterrence. While Pakistan has made notable progress in surface-to-air defense through its partnership with Beijing, India retains a clear technological and doctrinal advantage. This gap could prove decisive in the event of a direct aerial confrontation over South Asia.