Xu noted that the system could strengthen Pakistan’s ability to defend against cruise missiles, manned aircraft and other low-altitude threats, particularly if integrated with Chinese command-and-control systems already supplied to Pakistan. If confirmed, the acquisition would mark another step in the deepening defence relationship between Islamabad and Beijing.
At the same time, Xu cautioned that the system’s effectiveness against small and rapidly evolving drone threats remains less certain. Russian Tor systems have repeatedly been targeted by Ukrainian drones, although this does not necessarily indicate how newer Chinese variants would perform in comparable conditions.
More broadly, Xu highlighted that countering unmanned aerial systems remains a challenge for air-defence forces worldwide, as drone technologies continue to evolve in speed, scale and sophistication.
