The official commissioning of China’s new generation, main battle aircraft into the Pakistan Air Force marks the systematized, organic export of such aviation equipment by China, and is yet another major milestone in the export of China’s advanced aviation equipment. With the delivery of the J-10CEs, China and Pakistan opened a new chapter in aviation defense cooperation, and it will significantly contribute to the further deepening of the China-Pakistan All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
Analysts are appreciating the latest defense cooperation between China and Pakistan as the move yields great significance to both countries, in terms of boosting combat capabilities of the Pakistan military, promoting China’s aviation equipment, and responding to both countries’ security interests in the region. It is for the first time China has exported the J-10 series fighter and also the first time it has exported the WS-10 series engine.
In December 2021, Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced that a first batch of J-10Cs would be introduced during the fly-past that would be held for the commemoration of Pakistan’s Republic Day on 23 March, 2022, according to the report. The J-10C will significantly enhance the combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force. The J-10C is a 4.5-generation medium-size fighter jet and is more powerful than the China-Pakistan jointly developed lightweight fighter jet, the JF-17, which is currently in service with the Pakistan Air Force.
The J-10C is larger and can be equipped with a bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3 as well as the J-10C can also carry more advanced, fourth-generation air-to-air missiles including the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15. The J-10C is also significantly more powerful than the old US-made F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force and can rival the Rafale fighter jet that recently entered service with the Indian Air Force. Pakistan’s J-10C will not replace the JF-17, but form a combination, leading to higher combat capabilities.
Pakistan is a traditional and important partner of Chinese aviation arms products and noting that the country not only commissioned the J-6 fighter, the J-7 fighter and the Q-5 attacker, it also joined China’s development of K-8 basic trainer. In the 21st century, facing new combat environment and the international market, China and Pakistan jointly developed the FC-1, an all-weather, single-engine, lightweight, multirole fourth generation fighter jet also known as the JF-17. Independently developed by China’s aviation industry, the J-10CE is an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multi-role, fourth-plus generation fighter jet. It excels at systematic, cooperative combat, is capable of striking multiple targets from beyond visual range under complex electromagnetic environment, and can deliver precision attacks on ground targets with multiple guidance modes. Equipped with advanced comprehensive avionics and weapon systems, the aircraft boasts outstanding mid-to-low altitude combat maneuverability, supersonic flight, short-range takeoff and landing, large combat radius, long range and mid-air refueling capabilities.
The media reports suggest that Pakistan purchased a total of 25 J-10CEs. The J-10CE is not only more powerful than the lightweight JF-17 because of its bigger size, it is also more powerful than Pakistan’s old US-made F-16 fighter. It can rival the Rafale fighter jet that recently entered service with the Indian Air Force. Pakistan’s J-10CE will not replace the JF-17, but form a combination, leading to higher combat capabilities.
