HQ-9 what is it? A long-range air defense system of China
HQ-9
Manufactured by CASIC/CPMIEC — it is a long-range air defense and missile defense system. In the same class as the S-300 and Patriot. The HQ-9B variant has a range of 250-300 km, with ballistic missile defense capabilities. In 2013, Turkey temporarily won the tender for a long-range air defense system, but it was canceled due to incompatibility with NATO and political pressure. Export clients: Pakistan, Algeria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt (HQ-9B).
What is HQ-9?
HQ-9 (Hongqi-9, “Red Flag-9”) is a long-range air defense and missile defense system developed jointly by CPMIEC and CASIC. Export name FD-2000. It is compared to the Russian S-300 and the American Patriot.
In the 1990s, China first acquired the Russian S-300P system, then integrated the acquired technologies into its own system, developing the HQ-9. Therefore, the architecture of the HQ-9 is similar to the S-300, but it is a system developed by China.
Variants:
- HQ-9 — basic variant, ≈100-200 km range.
- HQ-9A — improved radar, more modern control.
- HQ-9B — long-range, 250-300 km, ballistic missile defense capabilities.
- HQ-9BE (FD-2000B) — export variant.
- HQ-9C — dual guidance mode (active radar + IR).
- HHQ-9 — naval variant, on Chinese destroyers of type 052D and 055.
Turkey’s adventure with HQ-9 (2013-2015):
In 2013, Turkey announced its preference for a Chinese offer of $4 billion in the tender for a long-range air defense system. This was an unexpected decision that bypassed the Patriot, S-400, and SAMP/T — particularly causing controversy over NATO incompatibility. The determining factor was the low price and the technology transfer offer.
However, under pressure from NATO, the USA, and Israel, the tender was canceled in 2015. In the following years, Turkey decided to purchase the S-400 from Russia (2017 agreement, 2019 delivery) — this also led to its exclusion from the F-35 program. Turkey’s journey to create its own long-range air defense system (SİPER program) is still ongoing.
International export of HQ-9: Pakistan, Algeria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Egypt (2024 agreement with HQ-9B).
