Pakistani air force deploys China-made air-defense system

Pakistan's air force has become the third confirmed foreign buyer of the Chinese-made HQ-17AE air-defense system.

A video released on Monday by the Pakistan Air Force's Directorate General Public Relations section shows an HQ-17AE missile launch vehicle operating on a road with its radar searching for targets.

Serbia and Tajikistan have previously deployed the HQ-17AE system.

Pakistan has previously purchased several types of Chinese air-defense platform, including the FM-90, the LY-80, the HQ-9BE and the HQ-16FE. Most of these systems were designed and built by the State-owned defense conglomerate China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, China's biggest missile-maker.

Developed by the CASIC Second Academy in Beijing, China's leading manufacturer for air-defense weapons, each HQ-17AE unit consists of one six-wheeled launcher vehicle, eight launch tubes that can fire short-range air-defense missiles, and a set of solid-state phased array radar.

According to the manufacturer, the system is mobile and can detect and intercept multiple targets, which means it is an ideal option for forward-deployed ground forces' air-defense operations.

Designers said the system is able to detect and bring down all types of air threats, including stealth fighter jets, helicopters, combat drones and cruise missiles that enter its perimeter of operations.

Each launch vehicle can travel at a maximum of 90 kilometers per hour and can fire missiles while moving at 25 km/h, designers said, adding that its strike range against incoming fighter jets is 15 to 20 km.

Chinese weapons observers said that HQ-17AE is the export version of HQ-17A, an air-defense weapon for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force that was also developed by the CASIC Second Academy.

The HQ-17A was first exhibited during the National Day parade in Beijing in October 2019 which marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.