Azerbaijan Acquires Chinese HQ-9BE Air Defense System

Azerbaijan has acquired the Chinese-made HQ-9BE long-range air defense system according to images and footage from preparations for a military parade in the capital, Baku.

Footage from preparations for a military parade in Baku revealed that Azerbaijan has added the Chinese-made HQ-9BE long-range air defense system to its inventory, making the country the fourth user of the system globally.

Images have shown at least two HQ-9BE systems, confirming Azerbaijan's procurement of the Chinese-made long-range air defense system. Azerbaijan becomes the fourth user of the HQ-9BE system after Morocco, Pakistan, and Egypt.

These systems are expected to replace or complement Azerbaijan's existing S-300PMU-2 systems, thus extending the country's air defense range and strengthening its long-range defense capabilities.

The HQ-9BE is the export version of China's HQ-9 air defense system, also known as the FD-2000. The system is designed to detect and destroy a variety of air targets, including aircraft, cruise missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and ballistic missiles, at ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers.

The missile has an operational range of 250 kilometers and a maximum altitude of 50 kilometers. It uses semi-active radar guidance to precisely hit targets and can reach speeds exceeding Mach 4.

The HQ-9BE system was first unveiled by Chinese defense industry companies Norinco and CATIC at the IDEX 2025 trade fair in Abu Dhabi last February. Its modular structure, long range, and strong electronic resistance capabilities have attracted the attention of various countries.