Illustrative image. (Tasnim News Agency)
Iran is expected to receive within weeks a first shipment out of hundreds of Chinese-made man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), Reuters reported on July 29, citing three sources familiar with the deal.
The sources told the news agency that the deal, valued at $60-70 million, covers the purchase of between 300 and 400 QW-12 and FN-16 missiles.
The deal was signed with Zhongqing Baoshang International Investment, a Hong Kong-based company that the sources said was acting as an intermediary between the Iranian side and the Chinese supplier.
The sources cautioned that, although the deal had been signed, delivery schedules, quantities and other implementation details could still change.
Under a plan agreed by the parties, deliveries will initially be by air from Urumqi in western China, then transiting through Pakistan to the Islamic Republic, according to the sources, who did not clarify whether the transfers would take place by air or by road.
The QW-12, developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, features a dual-band passive infrared (IR) seeker with improved filtering. Meanwhile, the FN-16, developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, features an infrared, ultraviolet dual-spectrum seeker. Both missiles have an engagement range of six kilometers, and an altitude of four kilometers.
China’s Foreign Ministry said that Reuters’ report is “completely groundless,” noting that Beijing has “consistently played a role in promoting peace and ending the conflict.”
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s military public relations wing ISPR said that speculations of the country being involved in supply of air defense weapons to Iran from China are “absolutely concocted and false.”
The report came just days after United States President Donald Trump warned China and Russia against supplying weapons to Iran.
“President Xi, at our recent meeting in Beijing, China, told me that he would not, under any circumstances, give or sell Weapons to the Islamic Republic of Iran — And that statement included Chinese Companies. Considering our relationship, I take him at his word and, besides, l am doing him very big favors, also,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on July 24.
Reports from earlier in the conflict suggested that China may have already supplied weapons to Iran, including MANPADS. It has also been reported that the Islamic Republic may have successfully used such missiles to shoot down U.S. warplanes.
The QW-12 and FN-16 are highly capable. Hundreds of such advanced MANPADS could significantly improve the air defense capabilities of Iran.
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