Pakistan Navy Claim Successful FM-90 Naval Air-Defence Missile Test in North Arabian Sea

The Pakistan Navy has confirmed that a Zulfiqar-class frigate successfully engaged and destroyed aerial targets using the Chinese-origin FM-90N ER surface-to-air missile during a live-fire exercise in the northern Arabian Sea, underscoring the service’s focus on strengthening shipborne air-defence capability.

According to an official statement, the missile demonstrated high accuracy and operational reliability while intercepting air targets under realistic maritime conditions. The Navy said the FM-90N ER achieved an effective engagement range of up to 15 kilometres and was capable of neutralising targets at altitudes of approximately 6 kilometres, consistent with its role as a short-range naval air-defence system.

FM-90N ER And Shipborne Air Defence

The FM-90N ER is the naval, extended-range variant of China’s FM-90 / HQ-7 surface-to-air missile family, derived from the French Crotale design. Optimised for maritime operations, the system provides point and local area air defence against fighter aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and sea-skimming cruise missiles.

Pakistan Navy officials said the exercise validated the missile’s ability to counter high-manoeuvrability aerial threats, reinforcing its role as the inner defensive layer aboard frontline surface combatants. The system is integrated with shipborne search and fire-control radars, enabling rapid detection, tracking and engagement of low-altitude threats.

Zulfiqar-Class Frigates And Operational Integration

The Zulfiqar-class (F-22P) frigates, built with Chinese assistance, form a core component of the Pakistan Navy’s surface fleet. The successful firing confirms the operational integration of the FM-90N ER aboard this class, enhancing its survivability against modern aerial threats in both open-sea and littoral environments.

The Pakistan Navy has not disclosed which specific Zulfiqar-class vessel conducted the firing, but officials described the test as part of routine combat readiness and weapons validation drills, rather than a platform induction trial.

HQ-17 And Technological Evolution

While the FM-90N ER belongs to the HQ-7 lineage, China has since introduced the more advanced HQ-17 short-range air-defence system, representing a newer generation of technology. The HQ-17 features phased-array surveillance radar, improved fire-control architecture and enhanced electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capability.

Open-source assessments credit the HQ-17 with an engagement range of 15–20 kilometres and an interception ceiling of up to 10 kilometres, with a design focus on defeating low-observable cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions and small UAVs. The Pakistan Navy has not announced plans to induct HQ-17 for naval use, and analysts note that the FM-90N ER remains a proven and cost-effective shipborne solution.

Capabilities And Limitations

Operationally, the FM-90N ER provides all-weather protection against low-altitude and sea-skimming threats, making it particularly relevant for convoy escort missions, littoral operations and high-threat maritime transits. Its compact launcher configuration allows deployment on medium-sized surface combatants without extensive structural modification.

However, defence analysts note that as a short-range system, the FM-90N ER is not designed to counter high-altitude or long-range threats, and must operate as part of a layered air-defence network. Limited ready-to-fire missile capacity can also pose challenges during saturation attacks, especially those involving coordinated missile or drone swarms.

Strategic Context

The live-fire exercise comes as the Pakistan Navy continues to emphasise maritime security, deterrence and operational readiness in the Arabian Sea. By highlighting the successful employment of the FM-90N ER from a Zulfiqar-class frigate, the Navy appears intent on signalling confidence in its shipborne air-defence posture.

Officials said the exercise reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to maintain credible seaward defence at a time when aerial and missile threats in the maritime domain are becoming increasingly complex and technologically advanced.