Larch Dug Up An Interesting Piece ...

 ... on Chinese HQ-9 AD complex. In support of the facts in this piece you have to recall that during recent (few years ago) tensions around Taiwan with the US Navy maneuvering in the area, China moved all its available S-400s and its regiment of SU-35 closer to the coast. Mind you, this is all after non-stop claims that HQ-9 is better than S-400. I omit here this Su-35 saga. Here is this piece and huge thanks to our good friend Larch. 

The Chinese "S-400 competitor" turned out to be weak

Pakistan is dissatisfied with the performance of the HQ-9B complex, which was advertised in China as "more advanced than the Russian Triumph."

Local conflicts, such as the Indo-Pakistani war, are often particularly interesting because of these duels, where systems that were competing in peacetime find themselves on the front lines against each other. The Chinese anti-aircraft missile system, like the S-400, is based on the Soviet S-300PM system.

The first models were presented in the early 1990s, and since then, several modifications have been developed, each more advanced than the last. The latest model, with the letter "B" and an integrated AESA radar and digital combat control system, was introduced by the Chinese in 2021. It was positioned as a "more advanced competitor to the S-400," although the Chinese were the first to acquire the "Triumfs" and are now using them in the most critical areas. But what can not be said for the sake of marketing.

Many countries were quite satisfied with this relatively inexpensive alternative, and it has recently become one of the most exported high-tech products from China's military-industrial complex.

Pakistan acquired the HQ-9B in 2021. Its combat debut took place during the brief conflict in May. However, it was a bit of a misfire. The system managed to intercept some of the French SCALP-EG cruise missiles launched by the Rafales, but it was completely ineffective against the Russian-Indian BrahMos missiles, which caused significant damage to Pakistan's rear airfields.

Shortly after the end of the conflict, Islamabad requested more advanced HQ-19 systems from Beijing, and tried not to even discuss the operation of the HQ-9B. However, it is now revealed that behind this conspiracy of silence lay a deep disappointment with one of China's top air defense systems.

Pakistanis on military forums complained that the complex is highly susceptible to electronic warfare systems, and its missiles require constant target illumination, which in turn quickly attracts enemy anti-radar missiles.

At least one full battery protecting the key Nur Khan airbase was destroyed by Indian Rudram-1 anti-radar missiles. The Pakistani military also complained that the HQ-9B could only shoot down subsonic cruise missiles, even though the advertisement promised that all missiles, including hypersonic and quasi-ballistic missiles, would be shot down.

This example once again proves that the original is always better than a copy, especially when the developer of that copy uses the original Russian Triumph for their own urgent needs.

So, make your own conclusions.