ISLAMABAD: Pakistani army chief (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday witnessed the commissioning of a Chinese origin air defense system into the military, saying it would make Pakistan’s security “impenetrable” against any current or future threats.
The commissioning of the air defense system in Karachi comes days after the army chief witnessed the commissioning of an advanced Chinese tank into the army’s strike formation in Gujranwala city.
“COAS witnessed commissioning of state of the art Chinese origin HQ-9/P HIMADS (High to Medium Air Defense System) into Pakistan Army Air Defense,” the military said in a statement. “Lieutenant General Hamood uz Zaman Khan; Commander Army Air Defense Command briefed COAS about strategic weapon system.”
The statement said the induction of HIMADS would “significantly enhance Comprehensive Layered Integrated Air Defense (CLIAD) shield of aerial frontiers of Pakistan” since the system was capable of intercepting multiple air targets including aircrafts, cruise missiles and “beyond visual range weapons” at ranges over 100 kilometres.

The system has Single Shot Kill Probability and is considered a "strategic long range Surface to Air Missile with remarkable flexibility and precision.”
“Speaking at the occasion, COAS said that induction of high-tech systems will make Pakistan’s air defense impenetrable in the emerging threat scenario,” the army’s statement said. “Pakistan–China strategic partnership and defense collaboration is a factor of stability in the region.”
Senior officials from China were also present on the occasion.