China may not be directly involved in the ongoing conflicts, but its military hardware is facing intense scrutiny. One of Beijing’s most promoted defence exports, the HQ-9B air defence system, is under renewed examination after reportedly failing in two separate conflicts within a year. The system is said to have underperformed again in Iran during recent US-Israel airstrikes. Earlier, it was deployed by Pakistan but reportedly failed to stop Indian strikes in May 2025.
Iran acquired the HQ-9B in July 2025 through an oil-for-weapons arrangement with China, aiming to strengthen its air defences after a ceasefire with Israel the previous month. During Israel’s Operation Rising Lion in June, deep strikes were carried out inside Iranian territory targeting its nuclear infrastructure, with the US also striking nuclear-linked sites toward the end of the campaign.
Despite being installed after those earlier attacks, the HQ-9B reportedly failed to intercept missiles during the February 28, 2026 joint US-Israel strikes. The system had been positioned around critical locations in Tehran and nuclear facilities such as Natanz and Fordow. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed damage at Natanz but reported no radiation leak. The broader assault hit more than 20 of Iran’s 31 provinces, causing extensive destruction and civilian casualties.
This marks the second reported setback for the HQ-9B in under a year. During India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025 — a four-day conflict with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack — Pakistan had deployed the Chinese-made systems to protect key installations. However, Indian strikes, including the use of Israeli-origin Harop drones, reportedly damaged or disabled several HQ-9B units. At the time, defence analysts noted that Pakistan’s air defence network in areas like Karachi appeared to collapse under sustained attacks.
Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the HQ-9B is modeled on Russia’s S-300PMU and the US Patriot PAC-2 systems. It reportedly has a range of up to 260 kilometres and can engage targets at altitudes of 50 kilometres, using radar and infrared guidance while tracking multiple threats simultaneously. China deploys the system to protect key regions including Beijing, Tibet and the South China Sea.
Iran integrated the HQ-9B into a layered air defence network that includes Russian S-300PMU2 systems and indigenous platforms such as Bavar-373 and Khordad-15, along with Pantsir-S1 units. Despite this layered structure, the network reportedly failed to prevent damage during the latest strikes.
Following the reported failures, defence commentators questioned whether the system is fundamentally flawed or simply outmatched by advanced US and Israeli aircraft, electronic warfare capabilities and coordinated strike tactics. Some commentators argued that had the air defence system performed effectively, outcomes at the leadership level — including the fate of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — might have been different.
The back-to-back combat setbacks have intensified debate over the real-world effectiveness of Chinese military exports and the potential impact on Beijing’s defence sales.
