From Operation Vermillion to Venezuela: Continued failures of Chinese weapons and radar (Photo- Reuters)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. China, one of the world's leading arms exporters, has been facing setbacks one after another in recent battlefields. From Pakistan's failure of Chinese air defense systems in India's Operation Sindoor in May last year to the collapse of Venezuela's defense system in the recent US Operation Absolute Resolve, Chinese technology has repeatedly failed under pressure.
Experts believe that these incidents raise serious questions about the credibility of China's military exports, especially when faced with American and Indian electronic warfare (EW) capabilities.
Chinese radar's crushing defeat in Venezuela
On January 3, 2026, US Special Forces arrested Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in a raid in Caracas. In the operation that lasted less than three hours, American EA-18G Growler aircraft blinded Venezuelan defenses with advanced electronic jamming.
The bulk of Venezuela's air defense was Chinese:
JY-27A radar →An "anti-stealth" radar publicized by Beijing to detect stealth aircraft such as the F-35.
JYL-1 Surveillance Radar →For long range surveillance.
According to reports in the Washington Times and Newsweek, these radars were a complete failure in the American attack. No American aircraft were detected, and the jamming showed only noise on the screen. The Russian S-300 and Pantsir-S1 systems also could not fire. Taiwanese experts described it as a "reputational blow" to Beijing, as it underlined US technological superiority.
China strongly condemned the US action, calling it a violation of international law, but military experts say the incident exposes Chinese "anti-stealth" claims.
Operation Sindoor: The shameful failure of HQ-9 in Pakistan
Pakistan's Chinese air defense systems were badly exposed in India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025. India launched precise strikes on Pakistani terrorist targets with BrahMos, SCALP cruise missiles and loitering munitions, which penetrated deep.
Main systems of Pakistan:
HQ-9 and HQ-16/LY-80 →Could not stop any Indian missile, many batteries were destroyed.
PL-15 air-to-air missile →failed to hit target, fragments recovered.
J-10C and JF-17 →Could not challenge Indian Rafale and other aircraft.
The Times of India and other reports stated that 82% of Pakistan's arms imports were from China, but these proved ineffective in the war. Chinese analysts blame the training and integration of Pakistani operators, but this raises questions about the quality of China's exports. Why are these failures happening?
China is the world's fourth largest arms exporter
China is the world's fourth largest arms exporter, but these failures are increasing hesitation among its customers (Pakistan, Venezuela etc.). The successes of India and America emphasize proven technology. In the coming times, Beijing may have to reconsider its military export strategy.