Pakistan Looks to Beef Up Air Defense With Latest Chinese System

Pakistan is considering acquiring China’s latest HQ-19 missile defense system following its four-day conflict with India in May.

The system is being planned for procurement along with 40 Chinese-made J-35A stealth fighters, which are expected to be inducted from the first quarter of 2026, Kuala Lumpur-based Defence Security Asia reported, citing sources.

Unveiled in November 2024, the HQ-19 is a ballistic missile defense system with an estimated range of 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles).

Primarily designed for long-range ballistic missiles, the system could also be deployed against supersonic and near-supersonic cruise missiles such as the BrahMos and the SCALP-EG, as well as India’s Agni series of ballistic missiles, according to Defence Security Asia.

HQ-19 Features

Developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the HQ-19 uses a hit-to-kill method for interception.

The system is mounted on an 8×8 wheeled transporter erector launcher with a six-missile configuration.

It includes a command and control system and powerful radar, the type 610A, which has an estimated detection range of 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles).

The HQ-19’s development began in the late 1990s and the first trial was conducted in 2021.

The system is derived from China’s HQ-9 surface-to-air missile system, which in turn is a derivative of the Russian S-300.

Pakistan Air Defense ‘Vulnerability’

Pakistan operates the Chinese-origin HQ-9 long-range and the HQ-16 medium-range air defense systems.

During the recent conflict, the Indian Air Force struck multiple military airbases and civilian targets it alleged were being used as terror camps inside Pakistan.

According to an early assessment by the DC-based think tank Stimson Center, “India demonstrated an ability to deliver precise standoff attacks across large swathes of Pakistan on each day of the conflict but especially May 7 and May 10.”

“While Pakistani air defenses likely interfered with or intercepted some attempted strikes, Pakistan has a meaningful and serious vulnerability to Indian air attack,” it added.

India said it used a mix of air-launched cruise missiles to inflict the damage.