The reputation of Chinese military hardware and equipment has suffered a significant blow following a series of prominent export failures, with analysts warning that these setbacks could impede Beijing’s long-term defence ambitions. According to a report published on Saturday by the Dhaka-based Lens Asia, multiple issues — from malfunctioning frigates to grounded fighter jets and underperforming laser defence systems — have cast a shadow over China’s image as a reliable arms supplier.
Despite being the world’s fourth-largest defence exporter, trailing only the United States, Russia, and France, China’s defence credibility and product sustainment record are increasingly being questioned by both buyers and independent experts. “Root causes are multiple and interacting,” the Lens Asia report said, adding that “chronic corruption, industrial unevenness, gaps in precision component manufacturing, procurement misconduct, and political pressure to showcase quick results” have all contributed to the decline in quality of Chinese defence products.
One of the most visible examples of these problems involves Pakistan’s F-22P frigates, which were built by China’s Hudong–Zhonghua Shipbuilding Group. Reports from Pakistani defence analysts and naval officials have pointed to repeated sensor and radar defects, along with engine overheating and crankshaft failures that have reduced the vessels’ operational readiness.
“The Chinese firm admitted that defective Gimbal Assembly motors were the cause of the fault, and these motors had not yet been repaired or replaced,” the report noted. This has jeopardised the frigates’ berthing and combat operations, forcing the Pakistani Navy to operate with compromised capabilities. “Some key mission objectives for which these expensive ships were acquired have been jeopardised,” it added.
China’s jointly developed JF-17 Thunder fighter jet — co-produced with Pakistan — has also drawn criticism. According to the Lens Asia report, Myanmar, Nigeria, and other JF-17 customers have experienced repeated mission-computer malfunctions, vibration issues, and airframe cracks, leading to fleet groundings in some countries.
In Nigeria, where the aircraft was touted as an affordable multirole platform, performance shortfalls reportedly led the air force to shift to the Italian M-346FA fighter jets, which offer superior reliability and weapon precision. “JF-17’s poor accuracy and low weapon-carrying capacity forced Nigeria to diversify,” the report stated, adding that spare parts shortages and poor after-sales service have compounded customer frustration.
Another setback for China’s defence technology came from Saudi Arabia, which had procured the Chinese SkyShield laser counter-drone system to enhance its protection against aerial threats. However, field reports indicate that the system has struggled in desert environments, suffering “significant performance degradation” due to dust, heat, and optical interference.
The Lens Asia report highlighted that these failures were observed during real-world operations rather than manufacturer tests, making them more credible. “The SkyShield system was anticipated to offer a cost-effective solution integrating electronic warfare with directed-energy weapons,” it said. “However, its failure in real-world conditions cast deeper doubts on the credibility of the controlled testing and the overall product quality.”
Beyond these individual cases, analysts note that structural weaknesses within China’s defence industrial base are undermining the reliability of its exports. The report links these issues to corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), ongoing purges ordered by President Xi Jinping, and “rushed production schedules” designed to meet political milestones rather than technical standards.
China’s rapid military modernisation drive has often prioritised quantity and demonstration over quality assurance and long-term sustainment, experts cited in the report argue. “Maintenance and logistics shortfalls, coupled with weak feedback loops between the military and industry, have led to recurring product failures,” one regional analyst was quoted as saying.
Many of China’s export clients have also raised concerns about inadequate spare parts supply, delayed technical support, and limited warranty coverage, leading to what the report describes as “erosion of confidence” among international customers.
“These complaints gain further traction when PLA media itself emphasises the need to treat equipment quality as life-or-death for soldiers,” the Lens Asia study noted. Such public admissions by Chinese military outlets, it said, implicitly acknowledge ongoing shortcomings in design, testing, and quality control.
While China continues to make inroads into developing markets in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, these persistent quality issues may hinder its efforts to challenge Western and Russian dominance in the global arms trade. Experts believe that without addressing systemic inefficiencies and improving customer support, Beijing risks losing its credibility as a dependable defence exporter.
“China’s defence industry has shown impressive capacity for scale and speed,” the report concluded, “but sustaining that growth requires the same rigor, transparency, and engineering discipline that define mature global arms suppliers.”
