Rattled by India's BrahMos blitz, Pakistan hunts for German defence tech as Chinese systems disappoint

Pakistan’s renewed interest in bolstering its air defences is closely tied to its inability to intercept threats like the BrahMos missile, which has demonstrated superior performance compared to similar systems in the region

Amid growing concerns over the effectiveness of its current air defence infrastructure, Pakistan is reportedly considering acquiring an advanced missile shield from Germany, an Economic Times report said on Wednesday. The move comes after India's BrahMos cruise missiles, known for their supersonic speed and precision, outperformed Pakistan’s Chinese-origin HQ-16 and HQ-9 defence systems during Operation Sindoor military offensive last month.

According to the latest media reports, Islamabad is evaluating the IRIS-T SLM air defence system, developed by Germany's Diehl Defence, which has seen significant success in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces recently claimed that the system had intercepted over 60 incoming threats since it was introduced last year. The IRIS-T SLM was originally contracted by Egypt, but some of those units were diverted to Ukraine amidst ongoing hostilities with Russia.

The IRIS-T SLM system, originally introduced in the 1990s, has since been upgraded with modern features. It comprises a modular setup—including radar units, an operations centre, and multiple missile launchers—all compactly arranged within a 20-foot frame, enabling quick and flexible deployment. Each unit reportedly carries a price tag of around $200 million.

Pakistan’s renewed interest in bolstering its air defences is closely tied to its inability to intercept threats like the BrahMos missile, which has demonstrated superior performance compared to similar systems in the region. With strategic vulnerability rising, Islamabad appears keen to enhance its defence capabilities despite ongoing economic hardships.

The country is currently facing a severe financial crunch, having recently secured $800 million in assistance from the Asian Development Bank and another $1 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. Yesterday, Pakistan announced an increase of 18 percent in its defence budget even as it cancelled domestic development projects worth over PKR 1,000 billion.

Interestingly, the German company Diehl Defence is also involved in a defence partnership with Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which is contributing to India’s ambitious Project 75I—a Rs 70,000 crore initiative to develop six next-generation submarines for the Indian Navy.