From Operation Sindoor to Venezuela: How Chinese weapons and radars are underperforming

From Operation Sindoor to Venezuela: How Chinese weapons and radars are underperforming

China, one of the world’s largest arms exporters, is facing growing scrutiny after a string of battlefield episodes raised doubts about the reliability of its defence systems. From the reported failures of Chinese-supplied equipment during India’s Operation Sindoor to the swift US operation in Venezuela, Beijing’s military technology has repeatedly come under criticism, unsettling potential buyers.

A Taiwanese official, quoted by Newsweek, said the US operation in Caracas — which reportedly led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife — dealt a serious reputational blow to China. The episode, the official said, highlighted Washington’s continued technological edge over military hardware supplied by Beijing.

Operation Sindoor and Pakistan’s air defence

During Operation Sindoor in May last year, Indian forces reportedly struck key military and terror-linked targets in Pakistan. Several assessments claimed that Chinese-supplied air defence systems, including the HQ-9, failed to intercept incoming strikes, including BrahMos missile attacks.

Pakistan, which sources nearly 82% of its defence imports from China, was seen as a key showcase market for Beijing’s military exports. The operation, however, exposed what critics described as serious vulnerabilities in Chinese-made systems when tested against Indian and Western-origin platforms.

Reports suggested that HQ-9 and HQ-16/LY-80 air defence units struggled to perform even around sensitive installations. The PL-15 beyond-visual-range missile, marketed as a competitor to advanced Western systems, reportedly malfunctioned or failed to hit targets, with Indian officials later displaying fragments of a recovered missile. Chinese-origin fighter aircraft such as the J-10C and JF-17 Block III were also said to have had limited impact on Indian air operations, despite unverified claims to the contrary. 

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