Chinese missile defence systems on show at IDEX weapons expo as war heats global market

China set to capitalise on Mideast market as Russia cuts back on sales and the US has restrictions for some countries, analyst says

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Weapons trends were on show at the 17th International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) and 8th edition of the Naval Defence and Maritime Security Exhibition (Navdex) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, this month. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 10:00pm, 25 Feb 2025

Air-defence systems made by China and other countries were a focal point at a major defence show in Abu Dhabi last week, with experts saying armed confrontation in the region has put missile defence systems in “great demand”.

During the International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) in the United Arab Emirates last week, China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC) presented its latest offerings: the HQ-9BE long-range surface-to-air missile system and the HQ-17AE low-to-medium altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system.

The HQ-9BE is an export variant of the HQ-9B which is in turn an improved version of the original HQ-9. The HQ-9BE has a range of up to 260km (160 miles) and added passive infrared seeker.

A 1:1 full-scale model of the HQ-9BE air defence missile system. Photo: Handout

The HQ-9 family is known to be a derivative of the Russian air-defence system S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, which are widely operated in former Soviet republics and the Middle East as well as China, even though Russia’s arms exports are being bogged down by Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

China’s HQ-9 systems are subject to similar export patterns as the S-300, and are in service in Morocco, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan.

Similarly, the HQ-17AE – which has reportedly been bought by Saudi Arabia and Serbia – is an export variant of the HQ-17A, a wheeled variant of the HQ-17, which itself was also derived from Russia’s Tor low-to medium-altitude, short-range surface-to-air missile system.

Timothy Heath, senior international defence researcher at the Rand Corporation, said the missile defences were “attractive” to countries in the Middle East confronting the threat of drone and missile strikes. Israel has shown the value of such systems in its efforts to counter missiles launched by Iran and groups such as Hamas.