Pakistan acquired its first fleet of the fearsome J-10C fighter jets from China earlier this year as part of Imran Khan’s administration. According to rumors, Pakistan has already received the second fleet, or batch, of J-10C fighters, which comprises six extra jets.
The Pakistani Air Force refers to the Chinese-built aircraft as “Dragon from the East,” and the government’s principal purpose for participating in this trade was to maintain the “security balance,” as declared by the Khan administration while the last fleet was in existence.
The Pakistan Strategic Forum confirmed the report through Twitter, and national news network 92 News confirmed it as well. Despite the fact that no government official proclaimed the news, and there was no ceremony to greet the fleet, the arrival of the jets is verified. According to Faisal Raza, a 92 News reporter,
“The second J-10C cape has successfully arrived at the operational airfield of the Pakistan Air Force. According to reports, the cape holds six new planes that would be integrated into the operational fleet of the Pakistan Air Force in the near future.
The J-10C is the most recent multi-role, single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing fighter with multi-display and radar options, which might be highly beneficial for Pakistan Air Force missions. The J-10C is powered by P-8, P-10, P-12, and P-15 missiles.”
This discovery comes only days after a photo of Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets went viral on social media, with the camouflage/paint scheme of French-made Mirage V fighters imitated.
According to recent reports, Sudan may be the second overseas buyer of the Chinese J-10C aircraft after Pakistan.
The preceding set of fighter aircraft were officially inducted at PAF Base Minhas Kamra in Punjab. This batch consisted of six J-10C planes with serial numbers ranging from 22-101 to 22-106. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the ceremony. Khan, who was present, stated:
“It considerably improves our defense system. On behalf of my country, I commend China for completing these planes in an unprecedented eight months.”
The J-10C is critical to Pakistan’s military system, and its previous incarnation was well praised for its superior capabilities. The J-10C, a NATO-approved aircraft, is popularly referred to as the “Firebird.”
The J-10 is a single-engine, light, multifunctional fighter capable of flying in all conditions. It was designed with air-to-air combat and strike missions for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force in mind. The J-10C, which entered service in 2018, is currently recognised as one of the most powerful single-engine fighters.
The J-10 is being manufactured on a bigger scale than earlier planes, with China reportedly already deploying over 200 of them, while Pakistan is constructing its first unit.
For increased maneuverability, the J-10 has two canards behind the cockpit and a wide delta wing. The J-10C variant is supposed to be powered by the local WS-10 Taihang engine.
The weaponry is comparable to that of the MiG-29 and F-16, with three weapon pylons on each wing and three on the belly. After the Chinese JF-17, which was developed in conjunction with Pakistan, the J-10CE is the Pakistani Air Force’s first modern aircraft.
Some of the fighter’s distinguishing features include the presence of a powerful AESA radar, a lower radar cross-section, and the availability of the exceptionally long-range AESA-guided PL-15 air-to-air missile.
Because of the canopy’s one-piece structure, the support system, which often adds to radar reflection, is also omitted. Even the primary delta wing is straight, as opposed to the curved surface of the earlier J-10, J-10B, and J-10C versions. It boosts peak speed by lowering drag and improving aerodynamic stability.
While Pakistan has just lately begun to incorporate high-end planes in its arsenal, India has had them for many years thanks to the MiG-29, Su-30, and now Rafale fighters. With the addition of these capes to the Pakistan Airforce, Pakistan’s defense has become impenetrable to India.
IRST can detect an aircraft’s or missile’s thermal signature. IRST is more survivable than radar since it does not expose the host plane’s location. The Pakistan Air Force’s first IRST-equipped aircraft is the J-10CE.
