Chinese arms exports tested in real-world use

Chinese defence exports are increasingly facing scrutiny as multiple countries report recurring reliability problems and limited after-sales support across a wide range of military platforms, according to a new analysis by Sam Cranny-Evans of Calibre Defence.

The report highlights decades of concerns affecting Chinese arms sales, spanning land, air, naval, and uncrewed systems delivered to foreign militaries. Equipment defects, maintenance challenges, and difficulties sourcing spare parts have reportedly reduced operational availability in some cases, forcing early retirement of key systems, as per Defence Blog.

Armoured vehicles

Thailand’s experience with Chinese Type 69-II tanks in the late 1980s serves as an early example. The Royal Thai Army purchased the tanks and hundreds of armoured personnel carriers amid regional tensions and a shift away from US equipment. However, the Type 69-IIs proved unreliable, and spare parts were hard to obtain. By 2004, the tanks were retired, while older US-supplied M48s remained operational. By 2010, the retired tanks were disposed of at sea as artificial reefs.

Despite these issues, Thailand continued to procure Chinese armoured vehicles, acquiring VT4 main battle tanks in 2016. Sixty VT4s were delivered by 2023, but reports indicate a catastrophic gun barrel failure in 2025 during fighting near the Thai-Cambodian border, injuring the crew. Unconfirmed accounts suggest broader concerns over the platform’s reliability and service life.

Air platforms

Chinese aircraft exports have also faced operational challenges. Myanmar grounded most of its JF-17 fighter jets in late 2022 due to structural cracks and radar malfunctions, according to a report cited by Cranny-Evans. The JF-17, co-developed by China and Pakistan, continues to secure export orders despite these issues.

Trainer aircraft have experienced similar problems. Bangladesh reported multiple crashes of the FT-7 family between 1994 and 2006 and lodged formal complaints after receiving K-8W trainers in 2020, citing weapons system and avionics failures. Myanmar also reported issues with its FT-7 fleet, which was subsequently upgraded by an Israeli company.

Uncrewed, naval systems

Chinese uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been implicated in multiple reliability problems. Jordan acquired CH-4B Rainbow drones in 2016 but expressed dissatisfaction by 2018 and offered the fleet for sale in 2019. Iraq’s CH-4 UAVs reportedly suffered eight crashes out of 20 units in the first few years, with the remainder grounded due to spare parts shortages.

Naval exports are similarly affected. Pakistan’s Chinese-built F-22P frigates reportedly experienced persistent issues with missile fire-control systems, radars, and propulsion. Bangladesh also received faulty spare parts for Chinese naval vessels in 2024, according to the report.

Emerging technologies

Even cutting-edge systems have shown vulnerabilities. Saudi Arabia’s Chinese-built Silent Hunter laser system initially downed multiple drones after delivery in 2022. However, later reports indicate that sand and dust degraded optical performance in desert conditions, reducing effectiveness and increasing engagement times.

Wider implications

Cranny-Evans notes that while some failures may stem from user error or maintenance practices, the recurring pattern across multiple countries and platforms points to broader quality control and sustainment challenges. By contrast, Western defence systems often continue to operate for decades thanks to sustained technical support and logistics.

The report warns that reliability issues combined with weak after-sales support can directly undermine partner forces, particularly during active conflicts. For countries relying on Chinese equipment, these shortcomings have had tangible operational consequences.

By Sabina Mammadli