Uzbekistan possesses a Chinese clone of the S-300 and has now revealed other secretly acquired Chinese missile systems as potential replacements for the S-125.

Uzbekistan serves as an intriguing example of a post-Soviet country relying on air defense systems acquired from China. According to data from The Military Balance 2024, at the beginning of last year, the Uzbek armed forces possessed one battery comprising four launchers of the FD-2000 (or HQ-9, a Chinese clone of the S-300 system), with the first test firing conducted in 2019.

Now, Uzbekistan is showcasing that it has obtained additional types of Chinese-made air defense systems, likely to replace the existing S-125 systems. This further illustrates the expanding influence of China in Central Asia and the gradual retreat of the Russian defense industry from traditional markets.

The portal Army Recognition reports that on February 21, 2025, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited the "Center for Innovative Technologies" of the Defense Industry Agency, where two Chinese-made surface-to-air missile systems were notably displayed, which had not been previously announced for transfer to Uzbekistan.

These systems are designated as KS-1C and FM-90, and the mere fact of their demonstration suggests that Uzbekistan is "gradually integrating these systems into its arsenal." However, the number and timing of deliveries of these air defense systems remain unknown.

To detail the specifications, the Chinese SAM KS-1C (export designation HQ-12) can engage aerial targets at a range of up to 50 kilometers and at altitudes of up to 25 kilometers, with a target detection range of up to 70 kilometers. This system is capable of intercepting aircraft, helicopters, and subsonic cruise missiles.

The guidance of the surface-to-air missile towards the target occurs either via radio command control or through semi-active radar homing; each launcher can accommodate two surface-to-air missiles with a launch mass of 900 kilograms, including a warhead weighing 100 kilograms.

In turn, the FM-90 system can be described as a Chinese clone of the French Crotale missile system. This Chinese complex also has an export designation HQ-7B, with a target engagement range of 8 to 15 kilometers, and each launcher can hold up to eight surface-to-air missiles.

Returning to the aforementioned Chinese missile systems potentially replacing the S-125, it is important to specify that at the beginning of last year, the armed forces of Uzbekistan had one battery of four launchers of the S-125-2M "Pechora-2M" (with a target engagement range of up to 32 kilometers) and two batteries of 10 launchers of the S-125M1 "Neva-M1" (with a firing range of up to 22 kilometers).

Previously, Defense Express also reported that Uzbekistan possesses as many as 48 2S7 "Pion" self-propelled howitzers, and has even developed its own 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer.