A confidential Australian report has revealed startling details about the failure of Chinese air defense systems during a recent conflict, dubbed Operation Sindoor. The 87-page document from Australia’s National Security College suggests that China’s highly touted YL-8E, HQ-16FE, and HQ-9BE missile systems, sold to Pakistan as impenetrable, proved ineffective against Indian weaponry. This revelation is being described as a significant military embarrassment for China and a major blow to Pakistan’s defense capabilities. The report details how Indian Rafale and Su-30MKI jets, armed with BrahMos-A and SCALP missiles, penetrated Pakistani airspace with ease, with none of the Indian cruise missiles being intercepted. Furthermore, the YL-8E radar system reportedly generated numerous false signals, leading Pakistani operators to waste munitions on decoys. China’s own CM-400 missiles also failed to perform as expected, with some being intercepted by Indian defenses and others missing their targets entirely. The report also notes the vulnerability of Chinese HQ-9BE launchers to Indian Harop loitering munitions, highlighting slow deployment capabilities. The findings suggest that Chinese military technology, particularly its air defense, may be significantly overhyped and underperforming when faced with modern Indian military capabilities.
