Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Bahrain has apparently acquired FK-2000 self-propelled, short-to-medium-range air defense systems from China to reinforce its air defenses in the face of repeated Iranian attacks.
Photos showing at least three such systems deployed on a beach east of Bahrain International Airport, in the north of the Gulf state, surfaced online on July 20. At least one of the systems appears to be operational in the photos.
The FK-2000 was developed by defense giant China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, better known by its acronym, CASIC.
The system, mounted on an 8×8 transporter chassis, is capable of engaging low-flying aerial targets like drones with its missiles at a range of up to 25 kilometers. It can be loaded with up to 16 missiles at once, eight on each side of its turret. The missiles are believed to be command-guided.
In addition to the missiles, the air defense system is armed with two 30 mm six-barrel Gatling cannons, also with adjustable elevation.
A search radar is mounted at the top-rear of the system’s turret, while the targeting radar is mounted at the front. An electro-optical sensor is also fitted as an auxiliary fire-control system.
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
Click to see full-size image. (Telegram)
There have been no reports of Bahrain signing a deal with China for the FK-2000, which suggests the system was supplied very recently, amid the conflict with Iran, to reinforce the air defenses of the Gulf state, which was hit hard by the Islamic Republic’s retaliatory attacks.
The FK-2000 was, however, previously exported to another Gulf state, the United Arab Emirates, although it is believed that these systems were all passed on to Abu Dhabi’s ally in Sudan, the Rapid Support Forces.
Bahrain’s acquisition of the FK-2000 signals a wider shift by Gulf states away from Western air defenses toward systems made by other countries. The shift is likely motivated by the high cost, low availability, and poor performance of Western systems alike.
Another example is the UAE’s acquisition of the Chinese-made Silent Hunter anti-drone laser weapon, which was spotted deployed at Abu Dhabi International Airport last April, also amid the war with Iran.
The trend is clearly growing, and with the West struggling to produce enough air defenses for its own needs, Gulf states will likely work to fulfill their needs from other sources.
This will certainly play in China’s favor, but Russia could also benefit in the longer term. According to recent reports, for example, one Gulf state is currently nearing a deal to acquire Turkey’s Russian-made S-400 long-range air defense systems.
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china is free to sell what it wants. replacing the united states. the pirate class extracts value without value creation. war will not save the epstine class form its corruption.
i responded to your comment with something about the prc also protecting it’s biggest oil and gas supplier with their satellite technology?… it’s like russia selling s-400s to the turks while defending syria. actually russia is worse when you consider it had it’s own fighting and dying alongside syria when it made that deal…. finishing… joseph heller of catch-22 couldn’t write a better sequel. hope s-f won’t block these facts.
… having said that. one can only hope that in that deal there is a silver lining in the contract that the rest of us know nothing about where all the clients are coordinated and on the same side!
those chinese asshxoles are arming iran’s enemies. what about iran itself? no weapon for them???
and russia’s enemies. iran has been criticised for not obtaining more weapons from russia and china. but both of them are snakes and iran can’t trust them. turkish s400s for iran’s enemies soon?
and turkey is russias enemy too. i never understood that sell. turkey shot down russian aircraft, assassinated a russian diplomat, had turkish proxies fighting syrian government and russian forces and is a nato member nation.
taiwan should buy a bunch the shipping costs would be much less
looks like our chinkie friends are making mega bucks out of ukraine and iran, selling russia’s enemies most of its drones and iran’s enemies with the air defence the amerikunts can’t supply. so much for brics …… with friends like that …….
china follows its five year plan. it will not permit internal corruption. it adds value to the planet. the us and israel extract it
is stabbing its friends in the back part of the 5 year plan?
so chinese drones to ukraine and chinese missiles to the emirates as well as chinese air force to pakistan who supports the saudis. its not that china ever said they are allied to anyone.
is us destroys irans oil delivery capabilities and eukraine the russians then china can look wehre it gets its oil and gas from.
gee. thanks a lot china.
completely idiotic. china provides, through its satellites, the targets to strike in the gulf and provides the systems to shoot down the missiles that the iranians fire at those targets.
tagliate i cavi sottomarini e usate droni sottomarini contro portaerei e finisce tutto.