KARACHI: General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), visited the Army Air Defence Centre Karachi on Thursday. The COAS laid floral wreath at Shuhada monument.

Later, he commissioned the state-of-the-art Chinese origin HQ-9/P HIMADS (High to Medium Air Defence System) into Pakistan Army Air Defence.

Lt Gen Hamooduz Zaman Khan, Commander Army Air Defence Command, briefed the COAS on the new system.

Induction of HIMADS will significantly enhance comprehensive layered integrated air defence shield of aerial frontiers of Pakistan as the system is fully integrated through a well-knit digitised system on its inventory, an Inter-Services Public Relations press release said.

Capable of intercepting multiple air targets including aircraft, cruise missiles and beyond visual range weapons at ranges over 100km with single shot kill probability, HQ-9/P is considered a strategic, long-range surface-to-air missile with remarkable flexibility and precision.

The COAS said that induction of high-tech systems will make Pakistan’s air defence impenetrable in the emerging threat scenario. He said exemplary synergy between Pak­­is­­tan Air Force and Pakistan Army Air Defence makes the country’s air defence impregnable. Pakistan-China strategic partnership and defence collaboration is a factor of stability in the region, the COAS remarked.

Senior officials from China were also present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2021