HQ-9

The HQ-9 is a Chinese road-mobile long-range surface-to-air missile family built for area air and missile defense against aircraft, cruise missiles, air-to-ground weapons, and some ballistic-missile threats. Pakistan operates HQ-9 variants as high-to-medium-altitude air defense systems, and public reporting places the family in Pakistani service during the 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict.

2025 India-Pakistan ConflictPakistan

Conflict side: Pakistan
Built by: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
Built in: China

HQ-9, Long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense

Image source: HQ-9 Surface-to-air missiles 20170919

Profile

Type: Long-range surface-to-air missile system
Conflict side: Pakistan
Origin: China
Service note: Operational from the early 2000s; Pakistan's HQ-9/P entered service in 2021

air defense SAM wheeled missile defense

Service History

In service: HQ-9 family operational in Chinese service from the early 2000s; HQ-9/P commissioned by Pakistan in October 2021
Used by: Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force
Wars: 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict

Production History

Designer: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC)
Designed: Development began in the 1970s, with major development continuing from the late 1980s
Built by: China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation
Built in: China
Unit cost: Not publicly disclosed
Produced: 1990s-present
Number built: Not publicly disclosed
Variants: HQ-9, HQ-9A, HQ-9B, HQ-9/P, HQ-9BE, FD-2000

Specifications

Role: Ground-based, road-mobile long-range air and missile defense
Engagement range: Approximately 100-200 km by variant; Pakistan's HQ-9/P is reported above 100 km against aircraft
Targets: Aircraft, cruise missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles
Launcher: Four missile canisters on an 8x8 transporter erector launcher
Guidance: Variant-dependent radar guidance, including track-via-missile or semi-active/active radar homing
Warhead: About 180 kg reported for the HQ-9 family

Conflict Usage

2025 India-Pakistan Conflict: Side: PakistanRole: Long-range air and missile defenseair defense
Pakistan fielded HQ-9 family long-range surface-to-air missile systems as part of its layered air defense during the May 2025 conflict; public reporting identifies HQ-9/P employment while broader strike and aircraft-loss claims remain contested.

HQ-9 Images

HQ-9, Long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 1 — Source: HQ-9 Surface-to-air missiles 20170919

HQ-9, Long-range surface-to-air missile system, Air Defense - view 2 — Source: HQ-9 September 3

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Sources

HQ-9Publisher: Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance | Note: Supports HQ-9 manufacturer, role, variants, target set, range bands, radar, launcher, and general specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Pakistan Army commissions HQ-9/P air-defence systemPublisher: Janes | Note: Supports Pakistan Army HQ-9/P induction, Chinese origin, integrated air and missile defense role, and reported engagement-range context. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 HQ-9 Long-Range Air Defence SystemPublisher: Quwa | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict direct use: HQ-9/P was fielded by Pakistan and used by Pakistani air-defense forces during the May 2025 conflict. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Four Days in May: The India-Pakistan Crisis of 2025Publisher: Stimson Center | Note: Supports 2025 India-Pakistan Conflict context, including Pakistan's possession of the HQ-9 air defense system and the contested evidence environment around possible system performance. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Pakistan's Bid to Escalate Negated - Proportionate Response by IndiaPublisher: Press Information Bureau, Government of India | Note: Official Indian conflict context for the May 8, 2025 claim that Indian forces targeted Pakistani air-defense radars and systems and neutralized an air-defense system at Lahore; the release does not name HQ-9. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 HQ-9 Surface-to-air missiles 20170919Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an HQ-9 launcher photograph, listed as own work under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 HQ-9 September 3Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for an HQ-9 missile photograph from the 2015 Beijing parade, listed as own work under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21