According to sources in Pakistan’s Ministry of Defence Production, the South Asian State’s armed forces are considering the acquisition of four units of HQ-9B (FD-2000) surface to air missile systems from China to enhance the country’s air defence network. The country currently relies heavily on the medium ranged HQ-16 (LY-80) system to protect its airspace, though it was long speculated that this would be followed by a purchase of a longer ranged system given the closeness of defence cooperation between the two neighbouring powers and the increasing emphasis Pakistani doctrine has placed on air defence. The HQ-9B is among the most capable long range air defence systems in the world, and was recently deployed by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to the South China Sea to safeguard the country’s territorial claims and protect outlying artificial islands.
The HQ-9B deploys two stage long range missiles armed with 180kg warheads, and can intercept targets at speeds of up to Mach 4.2. Missiles make use of thrust vector control, and are guided by a combination of inertial guidance, mid course uplink and active radar terminal guidance systems. The platform can reportedly engage targets at ranges over 250km - though at lower altitudes this engagement range will be considerably reduced. A more advanced derivative of the platform, the HQ-9C, is reportedly currently under development - and is expected to have capabilities comparable to the Russian S-300V4 and S-400 - both of which can intercept targets at hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 15.
Renewed Pakistani interest in the HQ-9B comes shortly after India contracted Russian S-400 missile systems to modernise its own air defence capabilities. With Islamabad likely to face considerable U.S. economic sanctions should it seek Russian or North Korean platforms for long range air defence, and with Russia nevertheless prohibited from selling platforms similar to the S-400 to Pakistan under the terms of the contract to sell the platform to India, China remains the only potential source of a high end capability in this field. The Indian S-400 is expected to be a major game changer of the balance of power near the Indian-Pakistani border - one which Pakistan plans to counter not only be developing more capable ballistic missiles capable of evading interception, but also but also by acquiring high end long range air defences of its own. Pakistan currently has no analogue to even the older S-300 currently deployed by the Indian military, and acquiring the HQ-9B will do much to create a more equal balance of power in the air. The system will form an effective complement to both the HQ-16 and the advanced Chinese PL-12 air to air missiles deployed by the Pakistani Air Force’s JF-17 Thunder combat jets, which while very light and short ranged are potentially highly capable when equipped with such high end munitions.
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