Pakistan is strengthening its air base protection by combining Chinese missile systems with Turkish gun-based technology. A PAF video released on September 7 showed three short-range air defence systems – China’s HQ-17AE surface-to-air missile, Turkiye’s Aselsan Korkut 35mm anti-aircraft gun and Aselsan Sahin 40mm counter-drone system.
The layered system is designed to counter drones, UAVs, helicopters and low-flying threats. Sahin covers very short range up to 700 metres, Korkut up to 4 km, and HQ-17AE up to 15 km. Defence analysts say this close-in weapon system (CIWS) approach was adopted after the May 2025 conflict and lessons from drone warfare.
However, analysts note these systems are meant for low and slow threats and would not be effective against high-speed cruise missiles like India’s BrahMos.
