Analysis With Superior Tactics, How India's Mobile S-400 Proved a "Game-Changer" in Op Sindoor, While Pak's Chinese HQ-9B Was a Sitting Duck

In a recent military flare-up, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully neutralized a technologically advanced Chinese-made HQ-9B air defence system used by Pakistan.

The incident, part of a broader Indian military action named "Operation Sindoor" on the night of July 7-8, 2025, has cast a spotlight on the significant gap in operational capabilities between Indian and Pakistani forces.

Confirmation of the strike by a retired high-ranking Pakistan Air Force (PAF) officer has ignited discussions on the battlefield effectiveness of Chinese weaponry versus the strategic advantage provided by India's Russian-origin S-400 system.

Precision Strike Exposes Vulnerability​

According to detailed reports, the IAF executed a highly coordinated strike against key Pakistani military installations.

A primary target was an HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, which had been moved just the night before from Rawalpindi to a new location in Rahwali in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.

Despite this relocation, Indian intelligence pinpointed its position, and a precision strike hit a critical sensor component around 3:45 AM PST.

While the Pakistani system managed to intercept one of the incoming munitions, the attack successfully disabled the multi-million dollar asset, highlighting a critical failure in its defence capabilities.

A Combination of Intelligence and Electronic Warfare​

The vulnerability of the Chinese HQ-9B, a system marketed as a rival to top-tier platforms like the American Patriot, stemmed from several factors.

First, India’s superior Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities rendered the system’s mobility useless by tracking it in near real-time.

Second, military analysts suggest the IAF likely employed sophisticated Electronic Warfare (EW) suites to jam or deceive the HQ-9B's radar systems, effectively blinding it before the physical strike.

Finally, the IAF's tactical use of standoff weapons, such as long-range missiles or combat drones, allowed it to attack the system from a distance, overwhelming its defensive perimeter through a combination of stealth and speed.

S-400: The Decisive Factor in Air Defence​

In stark contrast, India's S-400 Triumf air defence system proved its worth as a strategic game-changer during the operation.

Speaking on September 19, 2025, Air Chief Marshal AP Singh emphasized the system's revolutionary impact, noting its ability to project a threat deep into enemy airspace.

The S-400's exceptional mobility was a key element of its success. Even when its locations were reportedly identified by Pakistan, likely using Chinese satellite intelligence, the Indian crews were able to rapidly relocate the batteries.

This "shoot-and-scoot" capability ensured the S-400 network remained intact and lethal, preventing any effective Pakistani counter-attacks.

The S-400's operational superiority is built on several key features:

• Unmatched Situational Awareness: Equipped with advanced long-range radars capable of detecting threats up to 600 km away, the S-400 provides a deep and comprehensive view of the battlefield, allowing it to track numerous targets simultaneously.
• Layered Defensive Shield: The system can fire a variety of missiles to engage different threats—from fighter jets and cruise missiles to ballistic missiles—at ranges from 40 km to 400 km, creating a nearly impenetrable multi-layered defence.
• Proven Resilience: Developed from a long line of combat-proven Russian air defence technologies, the S-400 possesses robust protection against electronic countermeasures, a feature the HQ-9B appeared to lack in this engagement.

Strategic Implications for Regional Security​

The destruction of the HQ-9B serves as a significant setback for Pakistan's air defence strategy and raises serious questions about the reliability of high-end Chinese military hardware in a real-world conflict.

For India, the flawless performance of the S-400, integrated with superior operational doctrine and ISR capabilities, reinforces its strategic edge.

The success of Operation Sindoor demonstrates a mature and modernised military force capable of executing complex, high-technology operations while effectively defending its own assets, thereby reshaping the strategic calculus in the region.

 

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[Hawkeye]

Because of loitering munitions, glad that we were prepared and were locally manufacturing them.

 

[Dredd]

Because of loitering munitions, glad that we were prepared and were locally manufacturing them.

Pakistani were scared to turn on the radar of HQ-9 after May 7th to avoid getting hit. They also lack an integrated air defence command to tackle different threats. They were "saving" their air defence system to target Indian "jets" and left them being targeted by drones.

 

[Mirage]

Just keep the technological superiority aside.

You should have some knowledge to use that equipment. Chinese already smashed Pakistanis: they are not capable to operate such advanced systems. That's why they denied to give J-35 until 2030.

 

[Bks98]

Just keep the technological superiority aside.

You should have some knowledge to use that equipment. Chinese already smashed Pakistanis: they are not capable to operate such advanced systems. That's why they denied to give J-35 until 2030.

Not true. HQ-9B is a copied version of S-300. When Chinese bought Russian S-300, they sold (an) export version with many advanced features missing, as Russians knew Chinese will reverse engineer and copy it. Chinese made a fool of Madrasa-educated Pakistani selling junk HQ-9B.

 

[Bks98]

Even Russia's S-400 was shot down. This is due to AKASHTEER, our integrated air defence control system, which made its defence successful 👏. Russia has recently studied the AKASHTEER system.

 

[Ammoman]

Indians need to take "Game Changer" out of their vocabulary. Everything in Indian media is described as a Game Changer. Sounds stupid.

 

[Bhishma]

This is a brilliantly executed operation. It will be studied for the next decade at least. Full marks to them. Our only problem is the lack of vision and long term planning from our political side. Our politicians are mainly thinking "election to election". We could have easily taken advantage of their situation but failed to do so. This is something our armed forces must factor in for any future ops.

 

[Bhishma]

Just keep the technological superiority aside.

You should have some knowledge to use that equipment. Chinese already smashed Pakistanis: they are not capable to operate such advanced systems. That's why they denied to give J-35 until 2030.

How complicated can a SAM be? Are they going to write code in C to do the targeting and launching? It's just turn radar on, push the big red button.

 

[MohitG]

India will buy atleast 2 more S-400, after getting the first five orders

 

[Mirage]

How complicated can a SAM be? Are they going to write code in C to do the targeting and launching? It's just turn radar on, push the big red button.

Pushing a red button is shown in movies. It won't work in real time, brother. A typical air defence unit has a radar, a command post and a launcher. The radar picks up multiple airborne assets. The command post assesses the data, identifies potential targets and lets the launcher know the coordinates of the target. The launcher then selects the missile based on the distance, target size and fires the missile.

It's not a simple process. Pakistanis are not capable of operating such advanced systems.