Serbia Unveils Chinese-Made Missile Defense System... Emphasizes 'Defensive Use'

Chinese Media Claim Superior to US Patriot Missile Defense System
Criticize US by Recalling NATO's 1999 Belgrade Bombing

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] Serbian military authorities have publicly unveiled the 'FK-3 Missile Defense (MD) System' imported from China, according to Chinese media reports. Chinese media emphasized that the FK-3 missile defense system is for defensive purposes, not offensive, and highlighted its superior performance compared to the US Patriot missile defense system.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to Chinese media such as the state-run Global Times on the 2nd, Serbian military authorities revealed the FK-3 missile defense system received from China last month at the 'Shield-2022 Defense Industry Exhibition.'

This system is an export model of China's domestically developed 'HQ-22 Surface-to-Air Missile Defense System.' The maximum interception range of this missile defense system is reported to be 100 km. Additionally, the maximum interception altitude is said to be 27 km.

Within China, the HQ-22 is evaluated as superior to the US Patriot interceptor missile defense system. It is also emphasized that this missile defense system has the advantage of being cheaper than the US-made counterpart.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i?, who attended the exhibition, was quoted by the Global Times as saying, "The FK-3 weapons recently imported from China are for defense, not for threat."

The media cited military experts, stating that Western countries are disparaging Serbia for importing Chinese-made weapons, and that the Western bloc is wary of the large phased array radar applied in the FK-3 missile defense system. It added that NATO-affiliated fighter jets fear being monitored through the radar.

The Global Times also reported Western media coverage, including from the Associated Press, suggesting that the introduction of Chinese missile defense systems in Serbia could threaten peace in the Balkan Peninsula. The media supported the Serbian military authorities, stating that Serbia's adoption of air defense missile systems corresponds to its right to protect itself.

Furthermore, the Global Times referred to NATO's bombing of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1999. At that time, US-led NATO forces bombed for 78 days, causing thousands of casualties, and the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia was also bombed. The media criticized that even after 23 years, the US continues to slander China without grounds and is fueling the Ukraine crisis.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.