Pakistan orders 25 Chinese J-10C Fighters

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed confirmed the country’s acquisition of 25 J-10C multirole fighters from China.

On Wednesday, the minister told reporters in Rawalpindi that a full squadron of 25 J-10C jets will do a flyover on Pakistan Day ceremony on March 23 next year. The minister repeatedly mispronounced the name of the fighter, referring to them as “Chinese JS-10.” He added that the J-10C is “an answer to India’s Rafale jets.”

This aircraft took part in the Pak-China joint exercise in 2020.

During Shaheen-9 joint air exercises held in January 2021 which saw participation of these two countries, China’s J-10C and J-11B fighters simulated India’s Rafale and Su-30 jets respectively in mock battles. Air Forces from both sides focused on “large scale confrontation, including large scale aerial battles and use of forces in mass and close-quarters aerial support.” More than 200 sorties were conducted by both sides, to boost combat capabilities in learning from each other.