Egyptian General confirms deployment of Chinese HQ-9B air defense missile system to track stealth fighters.

As reported by Military Africa on July 2, 2025, Egypt has acknowledged its deployment of the Chinese HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile system, confirming a procurement that had been subject to speculation since 2017. The announcement came from retired Major General Samir Farag during an interview on Sada El-Balad TV, where he stated that Egypt’s air defense network includes modern systems such as the HQ-9B, described as comparable to the Russian S-400. This follows earlier reports that Egypt was operating the system, including observations of logistical movements involving Egyptian Il-76MF aircraft returning from China via Pakistan in July 2025. The HQ-9B is now officially acknowledged as a component of Egypt’s multi-layered air defense system, which includes Russian, Western, and now Chinese assets.
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Mounted on Taian 8x8 trucks, the HQ-9B possesses a maximum engagement range of up to 260 kilometers, while its effective intercept altitude exceeds 27 kilometers. (Picture source: Baidu/清风亦客)

Security concerns in the region have also contributed to this procurement; tensions with Israel, especially over Gaza, Turkish interference in Syria and Libya, and long-standing memories of the 2011 NATO intervention in Libya have all shaped Egypt’s pursuit of independent air defense capabilities, especially given the HQ-9B’s purported ability to track stealth aircraft and intercept precision-guided munitions. The HQ-9B is also part of a broader reorientation toward Beijing, which also includes the acquisition of Wing Loong-1D drones and potential interest in Chinese-made stealth fighters. This trend allows Egypt to recalibrate its relations with traditional Western partners, possibly increasing its leverage to renegotiate access to restricted technologies while maintaining operational flexibility through non-Western platforms.

The deployment of the HQ-9B reflects Egypt’s decision to diversify its sources of military equipment, especially following repeated issues with Western arms restrictions. The United States has restricted Egypt’s access to modern air-to-air munitions, with the Egyptian F-16 fleet still using AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. France, for its part, has refused to sell Egypt long-range MICA missiles for the Rafale fighter jets. Germany delayed the delivery of two IRIS-T SLM batteries, which were ultimately rerouted to Ukraine in 2022. Additionally, Egypt reportedly expressed interest in India’s Akash medium-range surface-to-air missile system, but discussions were slowed by bureaucratic issues in New Delhi. In contrast, the Chinese HQ-9B system is sold without end-user restrictions and at a significantly lower cost—estimated at $1.5 billion per regiment—than either the U.S. Patriot or Russian S-400, and without limitations on operational use or re-export.

The Egyptian Air Force's airlift movements in 2025 and prior discussions at events such as the 2017 Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) suggest that acquisition plans for the HQ-9B had been in place for several years. The HQ-9B was previously displayed at Chinese events, including the 2017 parade in Zhurihe and the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow, where export variants such as the FD-2000BE and HQ-9C were presented. These versions featured dual-layer interceptors, phased-array radars, and multi-target tracking capabilities. The HQ-9B is currently exported to several countries, including Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and Morocco, while Serbia has procured the HQ-22 variant. Egypt’s acquisition is part of a broader trend in which Chinese systems are being introduced into African and Middle Eastern defense networks, often filling gaps left by constrained access to Western or Russian systems.

The HQ-9B is a two-stage, long-range surface-to-air missile system developed by China’s CPMIEC (China Precision Machinery Import and Export Corporation). It is influenced by Russian S-300PMU1 technology and incorporates features from U.S. systems. The missile has a reported range of up to 260 kilometers and can engage targets at altitudes exceeding 27 kilometers. Guidance is provided through inertial navigation with datalink updates and terminal active radar homing. The system is equipped with a phased-array radar and a fire-control unit, capable of tracking up to 100 targets and engaging between 6 to 8 targets simultaneously. Each unit is mounted on an 8×8 truck for mobility and can rapidly redeploy in response to evolving threats. The interceptors are estimated to exceed speeds of Mach 4.2, and the radar's electronically scanned capability enables rapid 360-degree target acquisition and engagement without requiring mechanical movement.

The HQ-9B is designed to intercept a wide range of aerial threats, including cruise missiles, stealth aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Chinese sources have described successful intercept simulations against stealth targets in PLA exercises, where the system was used in conjunction with early warning aircraft and electronic warfare elements. At the 2022 Zhuhai Airshow, a variant equipped with 16 smaller missiles on a single launcher vehicle was displayed, suggesting the development of a higher-density version for future export or domestic use. Egypt is believed to operate the standard HQ-9B version with associated surveillance and fire-control radars. Its mobile configuration allows coverage of key areas while remaining compliant with regional demilitarization agreements, especially in the Sinai Peninsula, where combat aircraft deployments are limited by treaty arrangements.

The HQ-9B fits into Egypt’s integrated air defense structure, which includes Russian systems like the Tor-M2 and Buk-M2, German systems like the IRIS-T SLM, and radar assets from the United States, France, and Russia. These include the AN/TPS-78, Thales GM400, and 59N6E Protivnik-GE, which provide long-range detection and early warning capabilities. Integration with aircraft such as the MiG-29M is already in place, and compatibility with Chinese platforms such as the J-10C or potentially the J-31 has been mentioned in the context of future procurement. The HQ-9B's presence extends Egypt’s engagement range, enabling coverage over the Suez Canal, Red Sea approaches, and western Sinai without direct violation of demilitarized zones. The system also allows Egypt to maintain a layered air defense approach while balancing equipment from multiple foreign suppliers without excessive dependency on any one.

The HQ-9B has yet to be tested in combat, but its simulated performance in Chinese exercises and the expanding list of foreign operators suggest growing international confidence in its technical capabilities. Chinese television and military publications have presented the system as capable of operating under high electronic warfare pressure and engaging targets with low radar cross-sections. Egypt’s use of this system illustrates its shift toward suppliers that are willing to deliver modern air defense technology with fewer political or legal constraints. While the operational effectiveness of the HQ-9B remains subject to further validation, its confirmed deployment by Egypt adds to its status as one of China’s key long-range air defense exports and enhances Egypt’s national air defense capacity in a complex regional environment.