China’s Defence Tech Falls Short; Pakistan Eyes European Systems Post-BrahMos Shock
India’s Operation Sindoor shattered Pakistan’s air security blanket. As Islamabad scrambles for answers, eyes turn to Europe, specifically Germany’s IRIS-T SLM. But is it too little, too late?
Introduction: A Strategic Earthquake
On a seemingly routine day in May 2025, Pakistan’s military establishment received a wake-up call that would redefine its defense calculus. In a swift and highly coordinated operation now known as Operation Sindoor, India reportedly launched around 15 BrahMos cruise missiles aimed at 11 key Pakistani airbases, from Sukkur to Shahbaz to Nur Khan. The result? Zero interceptions by Pakistan's vaunted air defense systems.
This unprecedented breach exposed deep vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s aerial shield, particularly in its reliance on Chinese missile defense technology, notably the HQ-9B and HQ-16. The speed and maneuverability of BrahMos, a missile jointly developed by India and Russia, left Pakistan’s radars and interceptors scrambling, and ultimately, failing.
The Chinese System Collapse
Pakistan’s air defense is primarily structured around Chinese-supplied systems. However, as revealed by post-attack assessments, these systems simply weren’t capable of tracking and engaging supersonic cruise missiles like the BrahMos, which flies at speeds of Mach 2.8 to Mach 3.5 and can skim terrain at low altitudes.
In essence, BrahMos didn’t just break through the radar envelope it obliterated confidence in Chinese defense technology across Pakistani military circles. According to intelligence sources and defense analysts, not a single BrahMos missile was intercepted during Operation Sindoor.
This shocking outcome ignited internal reviews in Islamabad, where alarmed decision-makers are now re-evaluating their entire air-defense architecture.
The New Wishlist: European Air Defense Systems
In the days following the BrahMos strike, Pakistani defense officials reportedly opened exploratory talks with both Germany and Italy, expressing interest in acquiring IRIS-T SLM (Germany) and CAMM-ER (Italy) air-defense systems. Among these, Germany’s IRIS-T is emerging as the top choice and for good reason.
Why IRIS-T Is Leading the Pack
- Battle-Proven in Ukraine: Since its deployment in Ukraine, the IRIS-T SLM has gained a fearsome reputation. Ukrainian forces have achieved near-perfect interception rates against Russian cruise missiles and drones. In one recorded incident, the IRIS-T downed 8 cruise missiles in under 30 seconds.
- Precision & Agility: The IRIS-T SLM uses a highly maneuverable interceptor with a range of 40–50 km, and its radar network can detect multiple targets simultaneously.
- Real-time Combat Feedback: Operators in Ukraine have praised it as “the best Western air-defense system” currently in use.
Pakistan, watching Ukraine’s performance closely, views IRIS-T as a possible solution to plug the fatal gap exposed by BrahMos.
What About Italy’s CAMM-ER?
Though also under consideration, Italy’s CAMM-ER system has less battlefield validation than IRIS-T. While technically capable with a range of about 45–50 km and modular deployment features, it hasn’t yet seen extensive combat usage. For a country in crisis like Pakistan, proven performance is likely the decisive factor.
Diplomatic Dilemma: Can Pakistan Even Buy These Systems?
Germany historically enforced a weapons export ban on Pakistan, though it was partially lifted post-2009. Even so, no major German defense platform has been sold to Pakistan since. India and Germany enjoy stronger defense ties, and any move to arm Pakistan will almost certainly trigger a diplomatic standoff.
India may leverage its economic clout or reconsider joint projects like the P-75I submarine program with Germany in response.
Moreover, Germany and Italy are both NATO members, and any sale of high-end military hardware to a country under frequent FATF scrutiny (like Pakistan) is bound to attract Western skepticism.
Economic Reality Check: Can Pakistan Afford This?
This scramble for European systems comes as Pakistan faces a fragile economic situation. Ironically, recent IMF, World Bank, and ADB loans have allowed it to stabilize finances slightly, enough to consider emergency defense purchases.
According to sources, the German systems are being considered for bulk procurement, with attractive licensing and scaling options. Germany’s ramped-up production fueled by domestic orders and NATO support has made IRIS-T a ready-to-ship system.
China's Dilemma: A Blow to Prestige
China now faces a loss of credibility. For years, Beijing pitched its HQ-series as cheaper but capable alternatives to Russian and Western systems. But Pakistan’s reaction signals a significant shift: even its closest client no longer trusts Chinese defenses to handle modern warfare.
The HQ-9B’s failure against BrahMos, despite boasting long-range capabilities on paper reflects either overstated capabilities or software/hardware mismatches for supersonic threats.
This development could severely affect China’s arms export ambitions, particularly in regions like Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia.
India’s Strategic Win
From New Delhi’s perspective, Operation Sindoor wasn’t just a military demonstration, it was a geopolitical masterstroke. It:
- Proved the lethality and credibility of BrahMos in real conflict scenarios.
- Exposed Pakistan’s technological vulnerabilities.
- Forced Pakistan to seek Western arms, thereby straining Islamabad-Beijing defense relations.
- Opened diplomatic leverage for India to pressure Germany and Italy diplomatically.
Conclusion: A Race Against Time
Pakistan’s military establishment is clearly in crisis mode. The IRIS-T may help bolster its defenses, but it cannot erase the strategic humiliation of Operation Sindoor. Nor can it mask the systemic overdependence on Chinese hardware, which now stands discredited in the face of modern threats.
If Germany agrees to supply IRIS-T, Pakistan might patch a few holes. But true defense reform requires not just new systems but new doctrine, training, and independence in defense R&D. As things stand, India has sent a clear signal to its adversaries: legacy systems won’t save you.