China’s Air Defense Exposed as ‘Paper Tiger’ by Australian Report

Shockwaves are rippling through the defense sectors of China and Pakistan following the release of a classified Australian report that meticulously details the failure of Chinese air defense systems. The 87-page document, produced by Australia’s National Security College, describes China’s YL-8E radar, HQ-16FE, and HQ-9BE missile systems, marketed as state-of-the-art, as largely ineffective during Operation Sindoor. Pakistan had invested heavily in these Chinese systems, based on assurances of their ability to counter Indian air threats. However, the report concludes these claims were vastly inflated. During the conflict, Indian aircraft equipped with advanced missiles penetrated Pakistani airspace, overwhelming the Chinese-made defenses. Analysts noted that not a single Indian cruise missile was intercepted by the Pakistani SAM batteries. The report points to technological limitations, such as the YL-8E radar’s inability to distinguish real threats from decoys in complex environments, as a key factor. Furthermore, Chinese CM-400 missiles failed to achieve their objectives, and Chinese HQ-9BE launchers were destroyed by Indian kamikaze drones due to slow repositioning. This exposé positions Chinese defense technology as significantly overhyped and unreliable in real combat scenarios.