The Pakistani Army has inducted the Chinese HQ-7B short range air defense system. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif inspected the unit yesterday, witnessing training activity that included missile firing. The export system is designated FM-90 in Pakistan’s service can engage aerial targets including cruise missiles, drones and air-to-surface guided missiles under adverse electronic counter measure (ECM) environments, Pakistani sources said.

The system was unveiled earlier this year during the national military parade. The HQ-7B is a improved version of the HQ-7 (FM-80), itself, a Chinese copy of the French Crotale surface-to-air missile. The system is produced by by China’s National Precision Machinery Import & Export Corporation (CPMIEC).