At the military parade celebrating the 32nd anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Tajikistan, the recently acquired HQ-17AE short-range air defense system was showcased, featuring four combat vehicles and two transport-loading systems, although specifics of the procurement agreement remain undisclosed. The HQ-17A, initially based on the Russian Tor-M1, was first publicly displayed in Beijing on October 1, 2019, and China authorized the export variant HQ-17AE in early 2021. This system is mounted on a DongFeng Motor Corporation chassis with a 6×6 configuration derived from the Belarusian MZKT-692200, achieving a maximum speed of 90 km/h while engaging targets moving at up to 25 km/h. Equipped with a solid-state, 360-degree phased array radar and vertically launched interceptors, the HQ-17AE can carry up to eight missiles, simultaneously guiding four of them to different targets. This air defense system effectively engages threats at ranges of 1.5 to 15 km and altitudes from 10 m to 10 km, designed to counter a diverse range of threats, including precision-guided munitions and traditional aerial threats such as aircraft and UAVs. To date, Serbia is the only confirmed purchaser of the HQ-17AE, although Egypt and Saudi Arabia have shown interest, with no confirmed acquisitions reported. The deployment of the HQ-17AE enhances regional air defense capabilities and reflects a growing trend towards modernizing military arsenals with emerging technologies.
