Latest news with #SAMs
Middle East Eye
07-07-2025
- Business
- Middle East Eye
Iran receives Chinese surface-to-air-missile batteries after Israel ceasefire deal
Iran has taken possession of Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries as Tehran rapidly moves to rebuild defensives destroyed by Israel during their recent 12-day conflict, sources have told Middle East Eye. The deliveries of Chinese surface-to-air missile batteries occurred after a de-facto truce was struck between Iran and Israel on 24 June, an Arab official familiar with the intelligence told MEE. Another Arab official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive intelligence, said that the US's Arab allies were aware of Tehran's efforts to "back up and reinforce" its air defences and that the White House had been informed of Iran's progress. The officials did not say how many surface-to-air missiles, or SAMs, Iran had received from China since the end of the fighting. However, one of the Arab officials said that Iran was paying for the SAMs with oil shipments. China is the largest importer of Iranian oil, and the US Energy Information Administration suggested in a report in May that nearly 90 percent of Iran's crude and condensate exports flow to Beijing. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters For several years, China has imported record amounts of Iranian oil despite US sanctions, using countries such as Malaysia as a transshipment hub to mask the crude's origin. "The Iranians engage in creative ways of trading," the second Arab official told MEE. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are expected to discuss Iran and its nuclear programme when they meet on Monday. MEE reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response by the time of publication. Deepening relationship The shipments mark a deepening of Beijing's relationship with Tehran and come as some in the West noted that China and Russia appeared to keep a distance from Iran amid Israel's unprecedented attacks. Israel achieved air superiority over Iran's skies during the conflict, destroying ballistic missile launch pads and assassinating Iranian generals and scientists. Despite this, the government endured the strikes. It was also able to continue firing ballistic missiles at Israel, decimating several sensitive sites in Tel Aviv and Haifa before a ceasefire took hold. By allowing Israel to bomb Iran, Trump is pushing Tehran to go nuclear Read More » In the late 1980s, Iran received HY-2 Silkworm cruise missiles from China via North Korea when it was at war with Iraq. The Islamic Republic used the missiles to attack Kuwait and strike a US-flagged oil tanker during the so-called tanker wars. In 2010, there were reports that Iran received HQ9 anti-aircraft missiles from China. Iran is believed to use Russia's S-300, which is capable of engaging aircraft and UAVs in addition to providing some cruise and ballistic missile defence capability, as well as older Chinese systems and locally produced batteries such as the Khordad series and the Bavar-373. These systems are believed to have a limited ability to shoot down the US F-35 stealth warplane that Israel operates. China already sells its HQ-9 and HQ-16 air defence systems to Pakistan. Egypt is also understood to have China's HQ-9 system, according to reports.
News18
11-06-2025
- Business
- News18
Guns Over Growth: Pakistan's Defence Budget Hike A Survival Tactic After Op Sindoor Exposed Failures?
Last Updated: The defence budget hike has prompted concerns that funds will be diverted towards rehabilitating and building terror camps destroyed during Operation Sindoor, sources said. Pakistan is prioritising military spending over development, as evidenced by a significant 20 per cent increase in the defence budget, announced weeks after India's Operation Sindoor destroyed several terror sites in the country. This decision by the Shehbaz Sharif-led government appears to be an attempt to satisfy Field Marshal General Asim Munir's demands. The recent escalation in military expenditures underscores urgent requirements following India's precision strikes between May 7-10, 2025, which revealed critical weaknesses in Pakistan's air defence systems, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. Intelligence sources confirm that Chinese and Turkish systems, including HQ-9 SAMs and Bayraktar TB2 drones, were unable to intercept Indian drones and missiles. Major losses occurred at the Nur Khan airbase, necessitating a complete strategy overhaul. These failures highlighted Pakistan's technological inferiority, shared by China, in countering India's SkyStriker kamikaze drones and SCALP cruise missiles. China, aiming to enter the Tier 1 weapon market, is perpetuating a false narrative of success from Operation Sindoor, sources said. This budget increase, likely influenced by China, grants more control to Rawalpindi at the expense of Pakistan's economic stability. Despite a $22 billion debt crisis and fresh IMF loans, Pakistan has diverted funds towards military spending, ignoring warnings of fiscal unsustainability. The budget hike has prompted concerns that funds will be diverted towards rehabilitating and building terror camps destroyed during Operation Sindoor, sources said. Intelligence sources also suggest that Pakistan's spending will target vulnerabilities exposed during the conflict, including the acquisition of J-35 stealth fighters, with the first batch of 30 arriving in August 2025 at a 50 per cent discount from China. Pakistan is also acquiring PL-17 missiles with a 400km range to counter Indian AWACS and refuelers, following the failure of PL-15 missiles. Additionally, Pakistan aims to modernise its navy with Type 039B submarines and Jinnah-class frigates to secure sea lanes amid Indian naval superiority. Another significant focus of the budget increase is on Space and ISR capabilities, intending to enhance interactions with Chinese BeiDou satellites for real-time battlefield surveillance, especially after India's actions left Pakistan's reconnaissance capabilities blinded. Furthermore, the budget hike is seen as a measure to suppress domestic threats, such as those from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the guise of addressing external threats from India. According to intelligence sources, Pakistan's defence budget increase is a survival tactic following the battlefield failures exposed during Operation Sindoor. First Published: June 11, 2025, 11:14 IST
NDTV
22-05-2025
- NDTV
In Pics: The Air Defence System That Gave India Edge During Op Sindoor
India's Air Defence Systems proved their prowess at the height of the tensions with Pakistan during 'Operation Sindoor', intercepting numerous drones, missiles, micro UAVs, and loitering munitions, emerging as a globally actionable defence asset. Here is a look at India's 'Guardians Of The Sky' that gave it edge during Operation Sindoor India's integrated air defence system is an automated system integrates data from forces to combat aerial threats. It includes systems operated by the Army, Navy and the Air Force, which was brought together under the Integrated Air Command and Control System. This is followed by a second layer that includes to-a-point defence systems to protect specific areas or assets. The fourth, for area-defence, are long-range SAMs fired from the Russian-made S-400 and the fighter jets.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Clip of Pakistan general saying country 'lost jets' is doctored
"Breaking News Pakistan confirms loss of 2 JF-17s to Indian SAMs -- 1 F-16 also SHOT DOWN," reads an English-language Facebook post on May 8, 2025. The accompanying video appears to show Chaudry at a podium saying: "I regret to confirm that two J-F 17's aircraft were lost during active duty. This loss isn't just numbers for us, it represents a blow to our morale." Similar posts sharing the video also surfaced elsewhere on Facebook and on TikTok in the days after India said it launched strikes against "terrorist camps" in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad (archived link). Pakistan denies the accusation. The nuclear-armed rivals traded fire for four days before US President Donald Trump announced a truce on May 10. The flare-up in violence was the worst since the rivals' last open conflict in 1999 and sparked global shudders that it could spiral into full-blown war. Pakistan has not said it lost military aircraft as of May 20. Its military claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three advanced French Rafale aircraft, all of which were in Indian airspace at the time. India has not disclosed any losses. Reverse image and keyword searches found the manipulated video -- where the spokesperson's lips can be seen glitching -- matches footage from a press conference in December 27, 2024 published by the Pakistan military's public relations wing ISPR (archived link). "Security and anti-terrorism forces have conducted 59,775 intelligence-based operations of different categories," Chaudhry says in the presser. "During these successful operations 925 terrorists were killed." An analysis of the audio in the circulating clip using the voice cloning detection tool Hiya tool in the Verification Plugin, also known as InVID-WeVerify, found it is "very likely AI-generated" (archived link). AFP has debunked misinformation surrounding the India-Pakistan conflict here.
AFP
20-05-2025
- Politics
- AFP
Clip of Pakistan general saying country 'lost jets' is doctored
of Pakistan's military spokesman has been manipulated to make it appear he announced Islamabad lost three fighter jets during its recent conflict with India. The video shows Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudry talking about army intelligence operations in December 2024. "Breaking News Pakistan confirms loss of 2 JF-17s to Indian SAMs -- 1 F-16 also SHOT DOWN," reads an English-language Facebook post on May 8, 2025. The accompanying video appears to show Chaudry at a podium saying: "I regret to confirm that two J-F 17's aircraft were lost during active duty. This loss isn't just numbers for us, it represents a blow to our morale." Image Screenshot of the false post, taken May 20, 2025 Similar posts sharing the video also surfaced elsewhere on Facebook and on TikTok in the days after India said it launched strikes against "terrorist camps" in Pakistan in retaliation for a deadly attack on tourists in the Indian-run side of disputed Kashmir, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad (archived link). Pakistan denies the accusation. The nuclear-armed rivals traded fire for four days before US President Donald Trump announced a truce on May 10. The flare-up in violence was the worst since the rivals' last open conflict in 1999 and sparked global shudders that it could spiral into full-blown war. Pakistan has not said it lost military aircraft as of . Its military claims to have shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three advanced French Rafale aircraft, all of which were in Indian airspace at the time. India has not disclosed any losses. Reverse image and keyword searches found the manipulated video -- where the spokesperson's lips can be seen glitching -- matches footage from a press conference in December 27, 2024 published by the Pakistan military's public relations wing ISPR (archived link). and anti-terrorism forces have conducted 59,775 intelligence-based operations of different categories," says in the presser. "During these successful operations 925 terrorists were killed." Image Screenshot comparison of false post (left) and the ISPR video of the press conference (right). An analysis of the audio in the circulating clip using the voice cloning detection tool Hiya tool in the Verification Plugin, also known as InVID-WeVerify, found it is "very likely AI-generated" (archived link). Image Screenshot of InVid audio detection test. Taken by AFP on May 13, 2025. AFP has debunked misinformation surrounding the India-Pakistan conflict here.
