Pakistan to Acquire HQ-19 Anti-Missile Defense (chinese THAAD) system

Defence affairs

Reports from Pakistan state that the country's government wants to acquire the HQ-19 anti-missile defense system along with the fifth-generation fighter jet, J-35A, which Islamabad is expected to receive in the first quarter of next year.

In an effort to further strengthen its ability to defend itself against ballistic, cruise and hypersonic missile attacks, Pakistan has reportedly shown interest in acquiring the HQ-19 air defense system, also known as “China’s THAAD”.

THAAD refers to Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), a mobile missile system developed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles during the terminal phase—that is, when the missile is plummeting toward its target.

Developed by leading US defense company Lockheed Martin, the THAAD system uses a "hit-to-kill" approach, which destroys threats with kinetic energy without the need for explosives.

Reports from Pakistan state that the country's government wants to acquire the HQ-19 anti-missile defense system along with the fifth-generation fighter jet, J-35A, which Islamabad is expected to receive in the first quarter of next year.

Pakistani Air Force pilots are reportedly already in China to undergo training to operate the J-35A fighter jet.

The acquisition of the HQ-19 or "China's THAAD" anti-missile defense system is likely to be to deal with attacks from land-launched cruise missiles such as the BrahMos and also SCALP-EG launched by Indian Air Force fighter jets such as the Rafale.

India used BrahMos cruise missiles, which it developed with Russia, as well as SCALP-EG, which is a variant of the Storm Shadow and Taurus, to attack Pakistani military bases in the recent Pakistan-India conflict.

If Pakistan acquires the HQ-19 missile defense system, it will add to the collection of Chinese-made air defense systems it currently operates.

Pakistan currently operates several Chinese-made air defense systems that are an important component of the country's multi-layered air defense strategy.

These systems range from long-range surface-to-air missiles to man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) used by infantrymen.

Pakistan is currently using several Chinese-made air defense systems in its efforts to strengthen its layered air defense capabilities, involving short-, medium- and long-range assets that operate in a complementary manner.