Egypt has a diverse arsenal of modern air defense systems, including the advanced Chinese long-range HQ-9B system, Major General Samir Farag, a military expert and former head of the military’s morale department, said in an interview with journalist Ahmed Moussa on the program “On My Responsibility.” The announcement, broadcast on April 10, 2025, was the first official confirmation that the Egyptian army is using the Chinese-made system, considered one of the most advanced in the air defense field. The move highlights Cairo’s desire to diversify its weapons sources and enhance its defense capabilities with advanced systems.

Farag, citing data from a specialized military journal, noted that the HQ-9B significantly increases Egypt's potential to counter air threats. This system, developed by the Chinese CPMIEC Corporation, is capable of intercepting aircraft, cruise missiles and tactical ballistic targets at a range of up to 260 kilometers and an altitude of up to 30 kilometers. Its upgraded version, as the expert explained, includes improvements that allow it to effectively cope with a wide range of challenges, which makes it an important element of the Egyptian defense strategy. Farag's statement became a sensation, since previously information about the presence of the HQ-9B in Egypt's arsenal remained at the level of rumors, not officially confirmed.

The disclosure coincided with China’s latest air defense capability. According to information released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Central Command in August 2024 and cited by the Global Times, the new version of the HQ-9B has received significant upgrades. Each launcher can now carry up to eight lightweight and compact surface-to-air missiles, doubling the previous capacity of four larger missiles. The upgrade increases the system’s flexibility, allowing it to defend against both long-range and short-range threats, which is especially important in today’s conflicts involving drones and precision weapons.

Additional open-source information clarifies the scope of military cooperation between Egypt and China. In 2023, Army Recognition reported that Cairo was in talks to purchase Chinese air defense systems, including an export version of the HQ-9 called the FD-2000. Although no official contracts were announced, experts speculate that deliveries could have begun as early as the early 2020s as part of strengthening the two countries' strategic partnership. Egypt, which has historically relied on Soviet, then Russian and American weapons, has been actively expanding ties with Beijing in recent years. This is confirmed by the participation of Chinese companies in the modernization of Egyptian military infrastructure, as reported by Al-Monitor in March 2025.