Pakistan’s New HQ-9P Air Defence System Could Seriously Complicate Indian Air Force Operations

[Abid123]

Following multiple reports from 2018 from sources in Pakistan's Ministry of Defence Production that the acquisition Chinese HQ-9B (FD-2000) surface to air missile systems was under consideration, the delivery of the first units has been confirmed. The HQ-9P, which is thought to be an export variant of the HQ-9B tailored to Pakistani requirements, was commissioned during a ceremony on October 14th at Army Air Defence Centre Karachi. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Sources previously indicated that four of HQ-9s were being considered to enhance the country’s air defence network, although it remains uncertain how many have been deployed. The systems provide Pakistan with its first ever long range surface to air missile capability. HQ-9s have long been seen as a Chinese analogue to the more widely used Russian S-300 series, and the HQ-9B is considered China’s most capable multirole long range air defence system other than the S-400 acquired from Russia. The acquisition comes as India plans to acquire its first S-400 units with five battalions set to be operational by 2025. Long range air defence systems provide an asymmetric means of countering enemy air attacks, which is particularly valuable for Pakistan as it lacks fighter air fear comparable to the Indian Su-30MKI which forms then country’s elite and of which over 270 are in service.

HQ-9P Battery

Like many modern S-300 variants the HQ-9 emphasised a high level of mobility to allow it to very quickly redeploy and thus maximise survivability. The missile system has a maximum engagement range reported as between 200 and 300km by various sources, although the range is considerably shorter against low flying or stealth targets. At maximum range the HQ-9 can engage targets deep into Indian airspace if deployed near the border regions. The system can operate as part of a network and share data with other assets such as shorter ranged HQ-16 systems, HHQ-16s deployed by the Pakistani Navy, and JF-17 fighters which currently use Chinese-supplied PL-12 long range air to air missiles. Acquisitions from China have been central to Pakistani efforts to revolutionise its air defence capabilities in the face of improving Indian aerial warfare capabilities.

Source: https://militarywatchmagazine.com/amp/article/pakistans-hq9p-complicate-indian-operations

 

[ozranger]

The datalinks provide key capability to link up all Pakistan's air defense assets, across the army and the air force, including HQ-7/FM-80, HQ-16/LY-80, HQ-9P, JF-17, ZDK-03, various UAVs and even F-7P. Pakistan is building up a full kill chain upon the datalinks.

 

[Dalit]

The Indians don't have a clue about the exact specifications since the air missile system is fully tailored to Pak requirements. This is a huge headache in itself for India.

 

[RealNapster]

So India started negotiating a deal for S-400 in 2018 around and at the same time rumors emerged that Pakistan is also negotiating HQ-9B with China. Fast forward to this day and we have inducted the system while India is supposed to get the first order in 2025 ??

Wow

 

[Dalit]

So India started negotiating a deal for S-400 in 2018 around and at the same time rumors emerged that Pakistan is also negotiating HQ-8B with China. Fast forward to this day and we have inducted the system while India is supposed to get the first order in 2025 ??

Wow

If you want to understand how things are managed in Modi's Hindustan just have a good look at Rafale scandal. Marred by corruption allegations and nepotism. Virtually every acquisition becomes a question of transparency in Hindustan.

 

[RealNapster]

If you want to understand how things are managed in Modi's Hindustan just have a good look at Rafale scandal. Marred by corruption allegations and nepotism. Virtually every acquisition becomes a question of transparency in Hindustan.

That too, but Russians are also slow with deliveries. You can understand that with Armata, Pak-Fa and other deliveries to even Russian forces let alone foreign customers.

 

[Dalit]

That too, but Russians are also slow with deliveries. You can understand that with Armata, Pak-Fa and other deliveries to even Russian forces let alone foreign customers.

The Indians literally backstabbed the Russians by pulling out of PAK FA JV.

 

[Ghessan]

India must induct S400 and not to take any influence from US, this is to be done and we here will celebrate the move.

no wonder this induction would help us in so many ways.

 

[Nasr]

If you want to understand how things are managed in Modi's Hindustan just have a good look at Rafale scandal. Marred by corruption allegations and nepotism. Virtually every acquisition becomes a question of transparency in Hindustan.

Indeed!

As I recall, the indian "MRCA Deal" was initiated way back in 2001. It was touted as the "Mother of all Deals." The procurement stipulated that the indian Air Force required 126 fighter-jets, to be constructed in india. The Western countries like france Rafale, america Viper & Super Hornet, sweden Gripen and German/Spanish/Italian Eurofighter.

It took the indians an entire decade to finalize the MRCA Deal with Dassault's Rafale F3 being the winner of the contest. By 2015 or so, the deal fell through since the indians wanted the french to take full responsibility for the construction and operations of the manufacturing plants that would build the Rafales. The french, of course, refused to do anything of the sort and the deal came crumbling down.

What was to be a deal which constituted of $12 billion for 126 Rafales, eventually was replaced with india buying 36 Rafales for $8,4 billion ... 20 years later!!!

Similarly, india has been trying to develop and deploy it's LCA fighter. Even though the fighter is now being inducted, the whole process took well over 30 years to accomplish. At the end of which, india's light fighter that was purported to be indigenous, has a great deal of Western parts in it. In fact the heart of the aircraft, it's engine, is an American one. As it stands, the kaveri engine, billed as the engine that would fly the LCA, never came into mass production.

So yes, it is not only acquisition on the international level, but also the domestic one, where india seems to go from strength to strength in being totally inept when it comes to military hardware procurement nor indigenous projects.