U.S. media: Is Serbia buying a 'Chinese S-400' system?

According to the U.S. outlet, Serbia relies more heavily on surface-to-air missile systems than any other European country, due to limited resources, a relatively small fighter fleet, and the need to protect its airspace primarily with ground-based air defense systems.

The Chinese medium-range HQ-22 system currently forms the backbone of Serbia’s air defense, with deliveries having begun in April 2022.

In addition to the HQ-22, Serbia operates the Chinese short-range HQ-17A systems, Russian Pantsir-S systems, as well as upgraded variants of the Soviet-era S-125, which has limited mobility, Military Watch notes.

Although President Vučić did not specify which systems will be acquired, analysts have long assessed that Serbia’s air defense network will increasingly rely on Chinese equipment, the outlet writes.

Is Serbia acquiring the Chinese HQ-9B, an equivalent to the Russian S-400?

One of the main reasons is a lower level of trust toward NATO countries, which produce a limited number of air defense systems, at high cost and with restricted operational autonomy for users. Historical memory of the NATO bombing of Serbia, as well as support by NATO members for Kosovo’s independence, further reduces the likelihood of relying on Western equipment.

Another factor is strong pressure from the West discouraging Serbia from purchasing Russian weapons.

The magazine notes that one option for strengthening Serbia’s capabilities is the acquisition of higher-tier systems such as the Chinese HQ-9B, which is considered comparable to the Russian S-400.

Serbia had previously considered acquiring long-range systems, including the S-300PMU-2 and S-400, and an S-400 unit was deployed in Serbia during military exercises in 2019.

However, according to Military Watch, the purchase of the S-400 was abandoned primarily due to strong Western pressure and the threat of economic sanctions.

The HQ-9B could potentially fill that gap in the defense structure, and according to unconfirmed local reports, the Ministry of Defense has shown strong interest in the system. The acquisition of the HQ-22 may have served as a stepping stone toward the use of more advanced Chinese systems.

It is also possible that Serbia will acquire additional HQ-22 units to expand territorial coverage.

Although the HQ-9 is not China’s most advanced system, the HQ-19 and HQ-29 are designed for ballistic missile defense and are unlikely to be considered, as Serbia’s main threats are aircraft, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, the U.S. magazine concludes.