China’s Push for Global Air‑Defense Market Share

Chinese firms gathered with international competitors at the recent Eurosatory arms exhibition, where the latest air‑defence technologies took center stage. The heightened interest reflects the growing importance of counter‑drone capabilities following conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Industry analysts suggest that China can expect strong sales from customers in the Global South, leveraging the cost efficiency of its weapons. However, geopolitical considerations continue to restrict access to nations allied with the United States that prioritize combat‑proven and interoperable systems.

China’s premier land‑based arms producer, North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco), showcased a range of surface‑to‑air missile systems, including the Sky Dragon 100 and Yitian II, alongside anti‑drone guns and laser‑based defence solutions.

The HQ‑9, a long‑range surface‑to‑air missile with a reported reach of up to 260 km (162 mi), has been exported to Azerbaijan, Egypt, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, illustrating China’s expanding market presence.

Serbia stands out as an unusual European operator of Chinese air‑defence hardware, fielding four batteries of the FK‑3, a exported variant of the HQ‑22 medium‑range system.

Producing effective surface‑to‑air missile systems demands a robust domestic industrial foundation capable of manufacturing high‑frequency radars and advanced interceptors, a capability that only a limited number of countries possess.

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