China’s HQ-9B air defense system came under global scrutiny after it failed to protect Iran from recent Israeli and American strikes. Purchased last year under an oil-for-arms deal, the system was intended to strengthen Iran’s aerial defense, but it could not intercept incoming missiles or drones even for an hour during Saturday’s attacks.
HQ-9B Fails During Iran Strikes
On February 28, 2026, over 20 of Iran’s 30 provinces were impacted by the strikes. Sensitive sites, including the capital Tehran and nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, were targeted by Israeli and American forces. The HQ-9B system was deployed to protect these sites, but it failed to stop the incoming attacks, resulting in significant destruction and hundreds of civilian casualties.
Previously Failed in Pakistan
This is not the first time HQ-9B’s effectiveness has been questioned. In May 2025, during India-Pakistan “Operation Sindoor,” the system deployed in Pakistan failed to counter Indian strikes. Experts noted that Pakistan’s air defense gradually became ineffective, and several critical sites suffered damage.
What is the HQ-9B System?
The HQ-9B is a long-range, surface-to-air missile system developed by China, inspired by Russia’s S-300 and the US Patriot system. It has a range of approximately 260 km and can intercept targets at altitudes up to 50 km. The system can track 100 targets simultaneously and engage 6–8 at a time. Despite these capabilities, HQ-9B has failed twice within a year. China deploys it to protect strategic regions such as Beijing and the South China Sea.
Why Did It Fail?
Experts suggest multiple reasons for HQ-9B’s failure: the use of advanced stealth aircraft and precision missiles that the system couldn’t intercept, electronic jamming weakening its radar, overloading due to multiple simultaneous attacks, and lack of coordination among different air defense systems.
Iran Purchased HQ-9B in July 2025
Iran acquired HQ-9B missiles in July 2025 after a ceasefire with Israel in June, as part of an oil-for-arms deal, to bolster its air defense. At the time, Israel’s Operation Rising Lion had targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities. While Iran claimed its nuclear sites remained unharmed then, the recent failure of HQ-9B has challenged such assertions.
Even with Russian and domestic air defense systems integrated alongside HQ-9B, Iran’s “layered defense” proved weak against the combined Israeli-American attacks. This episode raises serious questions about the true capability and reliability of China’s military hardware.