Author: Air Marshal Anil Chopra (Retd)
rear Cash-strapped Pakistan relies on China for JF-17 and J-10C fighters, as well as JL-15 light combat aircraft, and aims to introduce China’s J-31 stealth fifth-generation aircraft by 2029. Pakistan had earlier ordered 6 Chengdu J-36 aircraft. 10CE “Vigoras Dragon” multi-role fighter (20 delivered, 16 coming). There are also reports that 14 more units will be ordered, bringing the total to 50 units.
Pakistan often outstrips India in fighter jet procurement
For a long time, Pakistan, under military rule, has been proactive in making decisions. Starting in 1954, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) acquired his 102 highly superior American-made F-86F “Sabers.” Around the same time, India acquired the Dassault Ouragan (Toofani). A few years later, the Indian Air Force (IAF) acquired the Dassault Mystere IV.
In 1961, Pakistan became a major non-NATO ally to receive F-104 Starfighters from the United States under the Mutual Assistance Program. The IAF responded by purchasing the Soviet MiG-21, which entered service in 1964.
In 1981, the United States authorized the sale of F-16s to Pakistan as part of an aid package. India signed him with Mirage 2000 in 1982.
In 1984, India became the first international customer to order MiG-29s outside the Warsaw Pact.
PAF has been operating the Saab 2000 using the Erie Eye radar as its primary AEW&C platform since 2009, and the Chinese ZDK-03 AEW&C since 2011. The PAF operates three modified Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft, which play a major role in electronic warfare. India inducted Beriev A-50 Falcon AEW&C in 2009 and DRDO “Netra” AEW&C in 2017.
The IAF inducted the LCA Mk1 in January 2015, while the PAF inducted its first JF-17 squadron in February 2010. PAF already has close to 150 of these indigenously produced fighter jets. India has built around 50 of her LCAs.
The first batch of JF-17C Block 3 aircraft was inducted into the PAF in March 2023. His LCA Mk1A in India will also be introduced soon. India signed a Rafale deal in 2015, and Pakistan responded by purchasing J-10CEs, signing a deal in 2021.
J-10 energetic dragon
The Chengdu J-10 is a medium-weight, single-engine, multirole, all-weather fighter aircraft with a delta wing and canard design and fly-by-wire flight controls. Although primarily designed for air-to-air combat, it can also perform attack missions.
This aircraft is believed to be of the fourth generation or later. It first flew in 1998 and entered service in 2005. To date, more than 600 aircraft have been built and flown by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, People’s Liberation Army Navy, and People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
J-10C is an upgraded version of that. It is powered by a WS-10B thrust vectoring control engine and is equipped with an indigenous AESA fire control radar, an imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, and a long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile (AAM). . J-10CE is an export version of J-10C. Export radars have short ranges and weapons sales are limited. The PL-15 is reportedly not yet approved in Pakistan.
Pakistan has selected Grifo-E AESA-MMR from Italy’s Leonardo SELEX-ES subsidiary for its J-10CE. The same radar will also be installed on the Chengdu JF-17 Block-3 aircraft.
Pakistani aircraft are modified for the Link-16 air-to-air/air-to-ground voice/data communications network. Additionally, the software defined radio (SDR) is from Leonardo. These modifications are being carried out at his PAC Kamla complex.
Pakistan has so far ordered 36 J-10CEs and may order 14 more for a total of 50. Saudi Arabia and Egypt have reportedly expressed interest in purchasing the J-10CE jet.
Comparison of Rafale and J-10CE
Comparisons between the J-10CE and Rafale fighters are somewhat unfair. Mainly because the latter is a twin-engine fighter with the globally recognized Meteor missile system and a state-of-the-art electronic warfare suite.
Both the J-10 and Rafale are referred to as 4.5 generation multi-role combat aircraft and have similar performance and capabilities in some respects. However, the Rafale is clearly superior to the J-10 in terms of technology, weapons, aircraft engines and combat experience.
The Rafale also has one of the best electronic warfare suites. Equipped with four missiles and a 1250 liter drop tank, it is capable of super cruise. The two technical parameters are shown in the table below.
| Rafale | J-10CE | |
| Country | France | China |
| length (meters) | 15.27 | 16.03 |
| Wingspan (meters) | 10.90 | 9.75 |
| Empty weight (kg) | 9,850 | 8,850 |
| Maximum takeoff weight (kg) | 24,500 | 19,277 |
| Hardpoint and payload | 14 (9,500kg) | 11 (5,600kg) |
| Cruising distance (km) | 3,700 | 1,850 |
| engine and thrust | 2xSnecma M88-4e (150 kN) | Shenyang WS-10 (140kN) |
| radar | RBE2 AESA | China AESA, |
| AAM (Range) | Meteor (200km) | PL-15 (200km)
PL-12 (70-100km) |
The Rafale has a superior thrust-to-weight ratio as it weighs only 11 percent more and has 20 percent more thrust than the J-10C. While the Snecma M88 is a proven aero engine, the WS-10 has only matured sufficiently since his 2009 and is reportedly still evolving.
The Rafale is used in combat operations in Mali, Afghanistan, Libya, Iraq and Syria. At best, the J-10 conducted joint exercises with Pakistan.
Pakistan needs replenishment
Pakistan continues to fly F-7PG (MiG-21 variant), ROSE I project vintage Dassault Mirage III aircraft, Mirage 5 ROSE II, Mirage IIIEA and Mirage 5PA.
The equivalent of these seven squadrons will be phased out. In effect, nearly 250 aircraft will need to be replaced over the next 10 years. The current plan of the PAF is to reduce the force to three types of him. F-16, J-10CE, JF-17.
They plan to add fifth-generation fighters of Turkish (Khan) or Chinese (J-31) origin by around 2030. There are reports that the PAF has shown interest in the KJ-500 AEW&C and Y-8 electronic warfare aircraft.
Acquired Hondo L-15 Falcon
The Hongdu L-15 Falcon (JL-10) is a twin-engine supersonic jet trainer and light fighter aircraft already in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). It uses fly-by-wire (FBW) and has a glass cockpit.
Pakistan is in negotiations to acquire the Lead Fighter Trainer (LIFT). The aircraft was built based on Yak-130 design data, and China received support from Russia’s Yakovlev Experimental Design Bureau.
The aircraft is equipped with a Passive Electronically Scanned Array (PESA) radar, Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), and IFF. It can also carry jamming pods and four tons of weapons mounted on nine external hard points.
The LIFT variant can carry a variety of weapons, including the PL-8 air-to-air missile (AAM) and the LS-6 satellite-guided bomb. Ukraine’s Ivchenko Progress AI-222K turbofan powers the L-15, as China does not have a suitable aircraft engine.
Pakistan has expressed interest in acquiring a light attack version. So far, Zambia and the UAE have purchased the aircraft. This aircraft is considered inexpensive, costing between $10 million and $15 million.
Pakistan has all its eggs in the Chinese basket
China has emerged as a major defense supplier to debt-stricken Pakistan. This linkage is the strongest in military aviation.
Starting in 1965, China supplied the PAF with Chinese-made Russian-type MiG-19s and MiG-21s, as well as Harbin H-5s (Ilyushin IL-28s). China established a “heavy industry” in Taxila in 1971 to rebuild equipment and helped establish the Pakistan Aviation Complex north of Kamra in Islamabad in 1973.
In 2007, as part of a joint project, China unveiled the JF-17 “Thunder,” a fighter jet “designed for Pakistan.” It kept costs low by borrowing technology developed for China’s J-10 fighter jet. The aircraft can carry a variety of Chinese AAMs, including the powerful PL-15. Currently, the PAF has 150 aircraft, but its strength may eventually increase to more than 200 aircraft.
Pakistan has acquired China’s HQ-9/P AD system, which is the Chinese version of the S-300, covering high to medium-level threats. Sixty Chinese-designed, Pakistani-made K-8 Karakoram intermediate jet trainers are in operation. Pakistan operates Chinese CH-4 reconnaissance and attack drones, which can carry up to four PGMs.
Despite pledges to the contrary, China continues to provide Pakistan with special steel, guidance systems, and technical expertise for its long-range ballistic missile development. The M-11 is a copy of the DF-11, and the Hatov, Shaheen, and Anza series missiles were manufactured with Chinese assistance.
JF-17: Treasure of cooperation to overcome hurdles
There were reports that JF-17 aircraft were grounded several times due to problems such as cracks in guide vanes, exhaust nozzles, and flame stabilizers. Myanmar was the first country outside Pakistan to purchase the JF-17, but technical failures forced it to ground its operations.
Since then, they have had grievances with Islamabad over “inappropriate” JF-17 aircraft. Nigeria has only acquired three JF-17s and is in a wait-and-see mode.
Unavailability of spare parts, delays or disruptions in the supply chain, and related maintenance issues led to the grounding of aircraft. The aircraft uses Russian-made RD-93 engines and requires regular maintenance and overhaul.
The conflict in Ukraine has disrupted the supply chain for spare parts. OEM supplier Rosoboronexport is under severe economic sanctions from the United States, and although the JF-17 avionics are supported by his KLJ-7 radar, its performance is consistently below specified levels. The radar has been changed to Block III type.
Both China and Pakistan are desperately looking for buyers for the JF-17 in Asia and Africa. The reasonable price is also attractive. Malaysia and Sri Lanka’s public rejection of the JF-17 appears to have been a setback for the PAF’s modernization plans. Pakistan has often named many countries, but these have turned out to be the beginnings of rumors and falsehoods.
Impact on India
Pakistan and the IMF have just begun negotiations on a new rescue package to address the cash-strapped country’s fiscal challenges and implement important reforms. Pakistan will need to roll over about $12 billion in debt from its key allies from 2024 to 2025 to bridge a whopping $23 billion external funding gap.
Pakistani insiders hope to get rollovers of $5 billion from Saudi Arabia, $3 billion from the UAE and $4 billion from China. Meanwhile, they are seeking new funding from China.
Political turmoil continues in Pakistan. Economic hardship has led to popular uprisings, and separatist forces exist in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Baltistan.
The world wants to know how Pakistan will finance such large defense purchases, but as the defense budget continues to increase, led by the military, the wish list for purchases is expanding.
60% of Pakistan’s military equipment is made in China. Therefore, some degree of interoperability exists. PLAAF and PAF exercise regularly. Therefore, it poses a compound threat to India.
The number of fighter squadrons in the IAF remains at an all-time low at 31. The Indian government has ordered increased LCA production to fill the gap, but it will need to buy at least 114 new fighter jets at least once.
India needs more MMRCA-class aircraft. If the Rafale is selected by both the IAF and the Indian Navy, it could be manufactured in India. LCA Mk-2 is still far away. India also needs to accelerate the development of AMCA to avoid being forced to source fifth-generation aircraft from abroad.
India also needs to accelerate development of the BrahMos 2 and Astra 3 missiles. Now is the time to act. Otherwise, it may be too late.
- Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired) is a veteran fighter test pilot in the Indian Air Force and currently serves as the Director of the Air Power Research Center in New Delhi. He served in the IAF for his 40 years and has been awarded the Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal.He tweets @Chopsyturvey
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