+GKABS 8,822 Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) Beijing’s first export of J-10C jets marks step-up in decades-old arms relationship with Islamabad China will deliver 25 J-10C fighter jets to Pakistan within weeks as part of a deal that will bolster Islamabad’s military capabilities against mutual rival India. Beijing’s first export of the advanced jets marks a big step-up in its decades-old arms relationship with Islamabad and entails providing its ally with some of the latest equipment that China’s own armed forces are using. China will also broaden its support to Pakistan’s navy. The first batch of the combat aircraft is being tested in Chengdu, the base of its manufacturer Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, according to a journalist at a Chinese military publication. “They will be transferred to Pakistan once Pakistan air force pilots and technicians have completed an introduction to the aircraft,” he said. Senior officials in Islamabad said the jets would be delivered before the end of the month. Last week, Chinese and foreign military watchers posted photos and a video showing several J-10C aircraft flying the colours of the Pakistan air force on social media. China is also selling Pakistan four Type 054A frigates, the first of which began service in November, and is expected to begin delivery of up to eight Type 041 submarines, its quietest attack submarine, this year. Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found here. India, which has been engaged in a stand-off on its Himalayan border with China for nearly two years, believes the arms deliveries to Pakistan are an attempt to amplify the threat from Islamabad. India shares long land borders with both Pakistan and China. “There’s a clear strategic nexus between China and Pakistan,” said Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the Centre for Policy Research, a New Delhi think-tank. “That nexus is clearly designed to contain India, to pin India down and keep it preoccupied. That’s the Chinese strategic aim.” He described the latest arms deals as a significant shift, adding that “China is now selling or transferring its top of the line weapons systems to Pakistan”. The J-10C aircraft will help Pakistan close the air-power gap with India following New Delhi’s acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. “This is our response to [India’s] Rafale,” Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Pakistan’s interior minister, said when he revealed the J-10C agreement in December. Edited February 19, 2022 by GKABS 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayethWhaaaa 245 Posted February 21, 2022 I'll believe this story when I actually see J-10s in PAF hands. This announcement, much like the stories about them buying J-11s, has been made about 30 times since the mid-2000s by a variety of 'news' sites-- usually dodgy Pak sources like defence.pk. Just going by the sheer number of these announcements, Pakistan would currently have about 2000 J-10s in service already. Personally, I'd take this announcement with a grain of salt... ...the size of Gibraltar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Gepard 11,507 Posted February 21, 2022 The Pakistanis have already the JF-17 in service. Its much cheaper to operate than the J-10. The question is, wheter Pakistan can affort it to operate a two fighter type fleet? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stick 773 Posted February 22, 2022 16 hours ago, SayWhatt said: I'll believe this story when I actually see J-10s in PAF hands. This announcement, much like the stories about them buying J-11s, has been made about 30 times since the mid-2000s by a variety of 'news' sites-- usually dodgy Pak sources like defence.pk. Just going by the sheer number of these announcements, Pakistan would currently have about 2000 J-10s in service already. Personally, I'd take this announcement with a grain of salt... ...the size of Gibraltar. Salty much?! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayethWhaaaa 245 Posted February 22, 2022 3 hours ago, Stick said: Salty much?! I'm too sweet to be salty, Turkish but you can forgive me reading this again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, again and again, ad nauseam, for 20 years and being just a tad skeptical. Now I'll be even more convinced as soon as I see actual video footage of them flying in PAF colours. If we're being honest, I'd like to see them in other colours. It's an excellent plane. But talk is cheap, and internet chatter is f*cking worthless unless it's backed up. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+GKABS 8,822 Posted March 11, 2022 11th March 2022 ATTOCK – The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Friday inducted six China-made modern fighter aircrafts J-10C that will strengthen its combat ability. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+GKABS 8,822 Posted March 14, 2022 Viper Block 52 and a J-10CE formed up. Only in Pakistan you can see that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
