*ISLAMABAD, (BM)* – Having successfully procured nine HQ-16-based LY-80medium-range (MR) surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems from China, Pakistanis now reportedly setting its focus on the FD-2000, learnedBulgarianMilitary.com.
Quoting a Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production (MoDP) official, theRussian News Agency TASS reports that Pakistan is now studying thefeasibility of procuring three or four FD-2000 long-range SAM systems tofulfill its long-range air defence requirements.
With a maximum engagement range of 125 km, the FD-2000 is an export variantof the HQ-9, which is the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) primarylong-range SAM systems on land and at sea.
Reportedly, the FD-2000 has a maximum speed of Mach 4.2, a semi-activeradar-homing (SARH) seeker and reaction time of 15 seconds. Its maximumengagement altitude is 27 km (i.e., 88,500+ ft).
Of the nine LY-80 systems on order, the Pakistan Army has reportedly takendelivery of them thus far. The LY-80 was formally inducted in March 2017and, according to TASS, the delivered systems are operational.
Besides extending its air defence coverage, Pakistan is also reportedlyimproving its very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) capabilities. Citing aPakistan Ministry of Defence official, TASS reports that Pakistan inducted200 QW-18-man portable air defence (MANPAD) launchers from China and, inturn, is planning to manufacture the QW-18 domestically under license.
Notes & Comments:
Though there had been reports of Pakistan expressing interest in Russianlong-range air defence systems, pursuing a Chinese system was the morenatural outcome.
Not only is China an assuredly willing supplier of such systems toPakistan, but Pakistan also has experience operating integrated air defencesystems of Chinese origin – i.e., the LY-80 and, in the future, the LY-80Nvia the Type 054A frigate.
The FD-2000 is analogous in its capabilities to the Russian S-300. Granted,the FD-2000 is a shorter-range system than the S-400, but it wouldrepresent a major step as Pakistan’s first long-range anti-air warfaresystem with a range of over 100 km.
While comparatively less than the S-400, the FD-2000 would provide anadditional air defence layer, especially against high-altitude threats.