Serbia has officially confirmed the acquisition of China’s HQ-9 long-range surface-to-air missile system, as reported by Dunav Intel. This announcement was made by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts to bolster its air defense capabilities.
The HQ-9 missile system will enhance Serbia’s integrated air defense network, which currently includes various systems such as the Chinese-made FK-3 medium-to-long-range system, the HQ-17AE short-range system, and the Russian-origin Pantsir-S1, designed for short- to medium-range defense. With the addition of the HQ-9, Serbia is taking significant steps to modernize its military capabilities.
Serbia has already made history as the first European operator of the FK-3, having deployed this system in January 2025. It is now poised to be the first country in Europe to utilize the HQ-9 missile system, indicating a substantial shift in regional military dynamics.
As a non-NATO nation and candidate for European Union membership, Serbia is striving to maintain a neutral military posture while establishing robust relationships with its European neighbors. Concurrently, the country has been nurturing closer ties with China, committing to enhanced military cooperation as early as 2021. Serbia was also the first European nation to procure Chinese drones in 2020 and conducted its inaugural joint military exercise with Beijing in 2025.
The HQ-9 missile system is engineered to target a range of threats, including aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as cruise and tactical ballistic missiles. The system boasts different variants, with operational ranges from 100 to 300 kilometers (approximately 62 to 186 miles).
An operational battery of the HQ-9 system includes command-and-control vehicles, advanced radar systems, and mobile launchers capable of carrying four interceptor missiles each. The export variant known as the HQ-9BE, measuring about 7 meters (23 feet) and weighing around 2,000 kilograms (4,409 pounds), is typically mounted on an 8×8 wheeled truck, allowing it to track and engage up to 10 targets simultaneously.
This acquisition marks a significant advancement in Serbia’s military infrastructure, reflecting its strategic approach to defense and growing collaboration with China in the context of the evolving geopolitical landscape.
