Hey, guys! It's only halfway through 2025, and the Chinese HQ-9B long-range air defense missile has already become so popular: from the Baku parade to the rumors of Iran exchanging oil for missiles, from the Suez Canal in Egypt to the steppes of Uzbekistan, this thing has swept across the globe like it's on steroids!

New intelligence: On November 4th, a video of a rehearsal for the Baku parade in Azerbaijan was leaked, showing two HQ-9BE launch vehicles openly appearing, officially announcing their arrival and commissioning. This is already the 8th country to bring the HQ-9B home! Let's count: What exactly makes this thing make Russia's S-400 and the US Patriot look bad?

First, let's look at the record: The list of 8 "hardcore fans" includes tough nuts.

Pakistan: First user, directly using the HQ-9B + JF-17 Block III as a "high-low configuration", even making India's Brahmos missiles avoid it.

Algeria: Africa's strongest air defense network, combining S-400, S-300, and HQ-9B into a trio. Morocco has four battalions of FD-2000B, silently sealing off the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkmenistan + Uzbekistan: Fully replacing the old Soviet S-200 with the HQ-9B, directly kicking Russian high-end air defense systems out of the Central Asian market.

Egypt officially announced in April 2025: A former general appeared on TV and personally confirmed that the HQ-9B is guarding the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, with Russian Dolgushevo-M2 and German IRIS-T nearby, making Israeli F-35I shiver, and the US is headache.

Iran is rumored to have received the HQ-9B in July 2025: In June, Israel's air strike completely destroyed Iran's air defense system, and New Delhi immediately exchanged oil for missiles, followed by foreign media reporting the procurement rumor of the HQ-9B.

Azerbaijan: While being friends with Israel and Turkey, it also buys Chinese weapons to replace Russian S-300, directly showcasing muscle in the Baku parade.

In the 8 countries, three are traditional Russian allies (Algeria, Iran, Azerbaijan), one is a NATO "quasi-partner" (Morocco), one is a US-Israel ironclad (Egypt), and there are two Soviet successor states. That's called "all-in"!

Why is it so popular? Three sentences will convince you.

Cost-performance killer: One regiment costs $150 million, double that of the S-400, and three times more expensive than the Patriot! It also includes training and zero political conditions.

Technology not inferior to the big names: Range 250-300 km (export version 200 km), height 27 km, 360° cold launch, one vehicle with 8 missiles. Dual-mode guidance head (active radar + infrared), strong anti-jamming capability that made Turkey's test shoot leave the S-300 far behind. It can seamlessly integrate with Russian Tor-M2 and Israeli Barak-8, Azerbaijan directly uses it to fill the gap in the S-300.

After-sales service all-in-one: Buying the HQ-9B, future purchase of JF-17 or J-10C, directly becomes a Chinese-style air defense combat system. On September 3rd, Beijing parade, the HQ-9C made its debut, with 8 small missiles + terminal anti-ballistic, old customers can later upgrade with patches! This is technological strength, with unlimited potential for upgrades.

The Russian defense minister once boasted that the S-400 was "invincible," but the two Central Asian countries replaced their S-200 with the HQ-9B, and after the Israeli attack destroyed Iran's S-300, they directly turned to China. In the global long-range air defense missile market, Russia fell from 90% monopoly to below 60%, and export revenue was halved.

Even more ruthless is: The HQ-9B can also "exchange oil for missiles," Iran directly uses oil as payment, making US sanctions meaningless.

Azerbaijan: Israel sells drones, the US sells F-16s, but buys Chinese missiles to guard Baku.

Egypt: Still uses Vietnam War-era AIM-7 missiles on F-16s, while China directly provides the HQ-9B, and may later procure the J-10C, giving the Suez Canal an additional "Chinese shield."

Morocco: As a NATO observer, it quietly deploys four battalions of FD-2000B near the Strait of Gibraltar.

Finally, a straightforward statement: The HQ-9B is not the strongest, but it is the "smartest" choice: cheap, easy to use, no picky, zero backdoors. With two months left in 2025, rumors say Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and Bangladesh are waiting in line. Will the Russian S-400 club change its name to "HQ-9B fan group"?

Can you guess who's next? Welcome to leave a comment and tell me.

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7569851234304180772/

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