This month, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will receive the first batch of Chinese J-10C fighter jets.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Federal Minister of Interior, has announced that the Pakistan Day parade on March 23 will include a fly-past by Chinese Chengdu J-10 (J-10C) fighter jets.
“The fly-past ceremony of J-10C is being held for the first time in Pakistan,” Rashid told reporters in Islamabad. “This is our response to [India’s] Rafale,” he said, referring to arch-rival India’s purchase of French-made Rafale combat jets.
In 2016, India agreed to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from France for approximately $8.7 billion. It was India’s first major purchase of combat planes in over two decades.
It is worth noting that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) will receive the first batch of Chengdu J-10C semi-stealth 4.5-generation advanced multirole fighter jets from China later this month.
The PAF will receive the first batch of 25 J-10C fighter jets in March, followed by another batch of 36 J-10Cs by the end of July, according to the Interior Minister.
The J-10C (or a variant adapted to the needs of the PAF) is a modern, powerful single-engine multi-role fighter. It is outfitted with an AESA active electronically scanning radar, a powerful ECM, a low RCS, and a wide range of smart munitions.
Many aspects of the J-10C mid-sized fighter jet, such as its aerodynamic characteristics, aviation, weapon systems, and overall combat capability, place it in the same league as the Rafale that the Indian Air Force recently acquired.
To read our blog on “Experts are astounded by Pakistan’s new fighter jets, which are more powerful than the JF-17, F-16, and Rafale,” click here.