On May 16, 2025, US warfare expert Colonel (Retd) John Spencer declared Pakistan’s Chinese-supplied air defense systems, like the HQ-9, ineffective against India’s BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles, used in Operation Sindoor to strike terror camps and airbases. The statement, made in an India Today interview, resonated with military analysts, Indian defense enthusiasts, and global strategists, highlighting India’s military edge.

It followed the May 7–10, 2025, operation, a response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, with strikes crippling 11 Pakistani airbases. The focus was on Pakistan’s air defense network, primarily in Punjab and Sindh, where bases like Rafiqui and Nur Khan were hit. Spencer attributed BrahMos’ success to its Mach 2.8–3.0 speed, precision, and ability to bypass radar via low-altitude flight, exposing HQ-9’s limitations .

BrahMos’ Superiority in Operation Sindoor

Operation Sindoor showcased BrahMos’ dominance, with 15 missiles targeting key Pakistani infrastructure. Launched from Su-30MKI jets, BrahMos penetrated Pakistan’s HQ-9 systems, which rely on Chinese technology akin to Russia’s S-300. Spencer noted that the missile’s speed and ‘fire-and-forget’ mechanism overwhelmed Pakistan’s radar, with decoy aircraft and Harop drones disabling defenses first. Social media sentiments echoed this, with users praising BrahMos’ precision, though some Pakistani voices expressed concern over their air defense vulnerabilities. The operation’s success, damaging bases like Skardu and Bholari, forced Pakistan to seek a ceasefire.

Pakistan’s Air Defence Limitations

Pakistan’s HQ-9, deployed to counter Indian air threats, struggled against BrahMos’ low-altitude, high-speed profile, as Spencer highlighted. The system, paired with JF-17 jets and PL-15 missiles, was outmatched, with India’s Akashteer and S-400 systems neutralizing Pakistani counterattacks. A 2023 claim by BrahMos Aerospace’s CEO, cited on social media, suggested even China’s S-400 couldn’t intercept BrahMos, underscoring HQ-9’s inferiority. Debris from a BrahMos missile in Rajasthan, initially mistaken for HQ-9 remnants, confirmed its use, per Defence Blog. Critics note Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese tech, exposed as “sub-par,” limited its response, with no effective interception reported.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

Spencer called Operation Sindoor an “inflection point” in counter-terrorism, proving India’s ability to strike “anywhere, anytime” in Pakistan. The operation validated India’s indigenous defense capabilities, with PM Modi and Yogi Adityanath lauding BrahMos’ role. However, a 2022 accidental BrahMos launch into Pakistan raised reliability concerns, though no such issues arose in 2025, per Eurasia Review. Pakistan’s weakened air defense may prompt strategic shifts, possibly seeking advanced systems, while India’s BrahMos exports to nations like the Philippines signal global trust, per Firstpost. The mismatch underscores India’s military ascendancy, reshaping regional power dynamics amid fragile bilateral ties.

-By Manoj H