Pakistan has unveiled its PFX (Pakistan Fighter Experimental) program as a significant upgrade to its JF-17 joint program with China. The new upgrade will have a number of stealth features ranging from the use of radar-absorbing composite materials and diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI) to internal weapons bay (IWB) which will significantly reduce the aircraft's radar signature. It is targeted for completion by the end of this decade. In addition, the PFX's twin-engine design will improve maneuverability and allow greater payload capacity.
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| Pakistan PFX Concept Fighter. Source: Raksha Anirveda |
The program is part of Pakistan's broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and strengthen the domestic defense industry. Currently, 58% of JF-17 components are manufactured locally by PAC, but Pakistan aims to increase this share to achieve full production autonomy for the PFX. It is not just about the PAF modernization but also about positioning Pakistan as an important player in the global military aviation market.
The PFX is an evolution of a plan that Pakistan announced in 2017 to develop and produce 5th generation fighter planes. It is part of Pakistan Air Force's highly ambitious Project Azm that includes building Kamra Aviation City dedicated to education, research and development and manufacturing of advanced fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and weapon systems.
The PAF has already started replacing its aging fleet with the induction of the Chinese J10C fighter jets which are considered 4.5 Gen. The J10-C has stealth features like diverterless supersonic inlets (DSI). Its BVR capability is supported by PL-15 missiles, with an engagement range of up to 200 kilometers, facilitating long-range target engagements.
The PAF has also begun the process of acquiring 5th generation Chinese J35 fighter jets. The delivery of 40 J35 fighters to Pakistan is expected within two years, potentially altering regional dynamics, particularly concerning India.
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20 comments:
This is undeniably uplifting news after a long time, but by the time they develop this in a decade, who knows what advanced aircraft our adversaries will have developed by then.
Muzaffar: "..by the time they develop this in a decade, who knows what advanced aircraft our adversaries will have developed by then"
Pakistani is definitely ahead of India in delivering fighter aircraft in large numbers. Not only has PAF inducted 168 of JF-17 so far but Pakistan is also exporting it to at least 4 countries. On the other hand Indian Air Force is complaining he has not received 40 Tejas the IAF ordered back in 2010
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-chief-ap-singh-tejas-fighter-jets-production-delay-china-sixth-generation-aircraft-2661342-2025-01-08
Okay. So, Pakistan has bought 10 J-10C jets and is about to buy 40 J35 jets from China.l, even as it is negotiating purchase of KAAN fighters from Turkey, while simultaneously developing PFX with China.. All great. But what still baffles me is how is a country running on an IMF program with barely 10 billion USD in its forex kitty and struggling to allocate funds for its development needs finding the money for all this? Does Pakistan's military establishment have a secret hoard? I mean, India with its much bigger economy and with over 650 billion USD in forex reserves is stingy in comparison when it comes to spending money for its defense modernization needs. The 126 jet MMRCA program was abandoned ostensibly due to its 'high cost' and the Indian govt instead settled for 36 jets only. And this is when IAF has barely 28-30 squadrons of antiquated fighters when it needs 42 squadrons of modern fighter jets for a hypothetical two-front war with Pakistan and China.
But don't get me wrong. It is, of course, solely the prerogative of Pakistani government/establishment to spend its money as it wants. But if I were a Pakistani, I would be more worried about the strain all of these armament would be putting on Pakistan's weak finances than their utility in a hypothetical war with India. Moreover, Pakistan's more pressing security concern at the moment appear to be the unrelenting militant attacks in KP and Balochistan across its western and northern frontiers than any Indian attack from its eastern border.
That said, the news of Pakistan's aggressive push to modernize its air force could also turn out to be a blessing in disguise for India as it might jolt the Indian estblishment out of its slumber and double down on its long delayed defense modernization programs. Indian govt might now try to accelerate its AMCA program while trying to ramp up the squadron strength of IAF in the interim by purchasing more Rafales. There has also been reports of Indian govt in talks with Safran and Rolls Royce for acquiring the designs for a fighter jet engine that can be domestically built in India. This project might be accelerated as well. The usage of American GE F404/414 engines in the Tejas program has been one of its weak links. In fact, the recent delays in delivery of Tejas Mk1/1A jets by HAL was reportedly due to delays in the supply of GE engines from US, who might seek to use it as a geo-political leverage on India.
"Currently, 58% of JF-17 components are manufactured locally by PAC.."
If I'm not mistaken, this "58%" only refers to the airframe and does not include engines, avionics, radar, weapon systems etc.
"Fifty-eight percent of the JF-17 airframe, including its front fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer, is produced in Pakistan, whereas forty-two percent is produced in China, with the final assembly and serial production taking place in Pakistan."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAC/PAC_JF-17_Thunder
Also, I would expect JF-17 and PFX to be largely of Chinese design, with Pakistan's role being largely confined to manufacture of some of its components. By contrast, the Tejas/AMCA design is largely India's own and the composite airframe of Tejas is entirely built in India.
"As of 2016, the indigenous content in the Tejas Mark 1 is 59.7% by value and 75.5% by the number of line replaceable units. The indigenous content of the Tejas Mk 1A is expected to surpass 70% in the next four years."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_Tejas
Salam Sir
Thanks for the post , as far as I know and have heard Tejas is a locally made aircraft of IAF( Indian Airforce), why it has to order for its import or have to order it to recieve?
Thanks
Turkiye, Pakistan to establish joint factory for production of KAAN fighter jet – Middle East Monitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250122-turkiye-pakistan-to-establish-joint-factory-for-production-of-kaan-fighter-jet/
Turkiye and Pakistan are reportedly set to establish and operate a joint factory to produce the new Turkish KAAN fighter jet, in what would be a significant move between the two countries.
According to a number of Turkish and Pakistani news outlets, representatives from 32 institutions gathered at the 8th meeting of the Pak-Turkish Industrial Expo in Pakistan earlier this month and finalised plans for a partnership between Ankara and Islamabad for the production of Turkiye’s KAAN fighter jet.
At those talks, Turkish Defence Minister, Yasar Guler, reportedly confirmed that an agreement for Pakistan’s official participation in the KAAN jet project is almost reached, almost a year and half after the Minister initially revealed that the two countries would be cooperating in the aircraft’s development and production.
Pakistan’s participation, according to the reports, is set to come in the form of a factory jointly established and operated between the Turkish and Pakistani counterparts, intended to produce and manufacture the jet.
The fifth-generation aircraft, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), is intended to replace Turkiye’s dated fleet of F-16 fighter jets in an effort to boost the country’s defence capabilities and keep up with the advancement of other newly-developed jets, particularly after the US cut Ankara out of the F-35 fighter jet program back in 2019.
The reported plans for the joint factory mark a significant milestone in the rising defence and military cooperation between Turkiye and Pakistan, providing Ankara with the opportunity to increase the production of the KAAN jet a low cost and to expand its export, while giving Islamabad the ability to boost its own aerial defence capabilities and to advance engineering skills within its own domestic industries.
Aside from the question of how Pakistan would find the money for all this in the midst of an acute economic crisis (the country is essentially surviving on loans), I am also intrigued why Pakistan would seek to acquire two different jets of the same class and potentially very similar abilities. By the looks of it, both J35 and KAAN have similar weight (MTOW) and combat capabilities. Is Pakistan hedging its bets should the performance of J35 fall short of expectations, despite all the "fifth generation" hype? Are there concerns about its performance - and especially the reliability of its engine? India's lack of interest in Russia's supposedly fifth-generation stealth fighter Su-57 was due to questions about its build quality and engine reliability. The Chinese engine in the J35 is new and its long-term reliability is unknown at this point, while KAAN intends to use a GE engine in the initial lot, and a domestic engine developed with ToT from a Western firm eventually.
On the flip side though, KAAN had its first test flight only last year and it will be many years before it becomes combat-ready, unlike the J35.
Alibaba releases AI model it says surpasses DeepSeek | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/alibaba-releases-ai-model-it-claims-surpasses-deepseek-v3-2025-01-29/
BEIJING, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Chinese tech company Alibaba (9988.HK), opens new tab on Wednesday released a new version of its Qwen 2.5 artificial intelligence model that it claimed surpassed the highly-acclaimed DeepSeek-V3.
The unusual timing of the Qwen 2.5-Max's release, on the first day of the Lunar New Year when most Chinese people are off work and with their families, points to the pressure Chinese AI startup DeepSeek's meteoric rise in the past three weeks has placed on not just overseas rivals, but also its domestic competition
"Qwen 2.5-Max outperforms ... almost across the board GPT-4o, DeepSeek-V3 and Llama-3.1-405B," Alibaba's cloud unit said in an announcement posted on its official WeChat account, referring to OpenAI and Meta's most advanced open-source AI models.
The Jan. 10 release of DeepSeek's AI assistant, powered by the DeepSeek-V3 model, as well as the Jan. 20 release of its R1 model, has shocked Silicon Valley and caused tech shares to plunge, with the Chinese startup's purportedly low development and usage costs prompting investors to question huge spending plans by leading AI firms in the United States.
But DeepSeek's success has also led to a scramble among its domestic competitors to upgrade their own AI models.
Two days after the release of DeepSeek-R1, TikTok owner ByteDance released an update to its flagship AI model, which it claimed outperformed Microsoft-backed OpenAI's o1 in AIME, a benchmark test that measures how well AI models understand and respond to complex instructions.
This echoed DeepSeek's claim that its R1 model rivalled OpenAI's o1 on several performance benchmarks.
The predecessor of DeepSeek's V3 model, DeepSeek-V2, triggered an AI model price war in China after it was released last May.
The fact that DeepSeek-V2 was open-source and unprecedentedly cheap, only 1 yuan ($0.14) per 1 million tokens - or units of data processed by the AI model - led to Alibaba's cloud unit announcing price cuts of up to 97% on a range of models.
Other Chinese tech companies followed suit, including Baidu (9888.HK), opens new tab, which released China's first equivalent to ChatGPT in March 2023, and the country's most valuable internet company Tencent (0700.HK)
Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek's enigmatic founder, said in a rare interview with Chinese media outlet Waves in July that the startup "did not care" about price wars and that achieving AGI (artificial general intelligence) was its main goal.
OpenAI defines AGI as autonomous systems that surpass humans in most economically valuable tasks.
While large Chinese tech companies like Alibaba have hundreds of thousands of employees, DeepSeek operates like a research lab, staffed mainly by young graduates and doctorate students from top Chinese universities.
Liang said in his July interview that he believed China's largest tech companies might not be well suited to the future of the AI industry, contrasting their high costs and top-down structures with DeepSeek's lean operation and loose management style.
"Large foundational models require continued innovation, tech giants' capabilities have their limits," he said.
Pakistan Air Force to Gain “12-14 Year” Edge Over India with J-35A Fighter Acquisition
https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/pakistan-air-force-to-gain-12-14-year-edge-over-india-with-j-35a-fighter-acquisition/#google_vignette
Retired Air Commodore Zia Ul Haque Shamshi, a former senior officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), asserts that the acquisition of the advanced J-35A will leave the Indian Air Force (IAF) lagging behind, giving Pakistan a technological upper hand for the next 12 to 14 years.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) –Pakistan’s bold move to secure up to 40 J-35A fifth-generation fighter jets from China is set to reshape the regional air power equation, granting its air force a formidable edge over its long-standing rival, India.
Retired Air Commodore Zia Ul Haque Shamshi, a former senior officer of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), asserts that the acquisition of the advanced J-35A will leave the Indian Air Force (IAF) lagging behind, giving Pakistan a technological upper hand for the next 12 to 14 years.
“India is not expected to acquire fifth-generation fighter jet capabilities within that timeframe, which will provide Pakistan with a strategic edge,” he stated.
Last year, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) sent shockwaves through the region with strong indications of its intent to acquire the cutting-edge J-35A stealth fighter, a next-generation war machine developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.
Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu further fueled anticipation, declaring that the J-35A would soon take its place in the PAF’s arsenal, signaling a transformative leap in Pakistan’s aerial warfare capabilities.
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“Negotiations have been conducted for the acquisition of the J-35A, which will soon become part of the Pakistan Air Force,” he said during an event last year.
Recently, Pakistani media reported that the PAF has already sent a group of its pilots to China for training on the J-35A fighter jet, further reinforcing the country’s commitment to integrating fifth-generation fighter technology into its fleet.
The J-35A is China’s second stealth fighter after the J-20 “Mighty Dragon.”
While the J-20 remains exclusive to the Chinese Air Force, the J-35A has been developed with potential export customers in mind.
This latest acquisition will further expand the presence of Chinese-made fighter jets in Pakistan’s air force inventory, which already includes the J-10C and the jointly developed JF-17.
Reports that Pakistani pilots have begun training on the J-35A indicate that Islamabad is on a definitive path toward fielding fifth-generation fighter aircraft.
This move has raised concerns in neighboring India, which continues to rely on 4.5-generation fighters such as the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale jets.
India now faces the prospect of dealing with not just China—whose air force already operates the J-20—but also Pakistan, which appears set to introduce its own fifth-generation fighters.
According to analysts, Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35A, as reported by its media, is likely intended to replace its aging fleet of American-made F-16s and French-built Mirage 5 aircraft.
If confirmed, this procurement could significantly alter the balance of air power in the region and pose a new strategic challenge for India.
The J-35A is expected to enhance Pakistan’s tactical flexibility, allowing its air force to conduct deeper penetration missions into enemy airspace.
China has been actively promoting the J-35A for export, even establishing a dedicated office to attract potential foreign buyers.
Unlike the J-20, which Beijing has restricted from export—similar to how the U.S. limits sales of the F-22 Raptor—the J-35A is being positioned as a viable alternative for international customers.
The J-35A stands as a formidable force in modern aerial warfare—a single-seat, twin-engine, medium-sized stealth fighter engineered for dominance.
Boasting cutting-edge low-observability technology and cost-effective operational efficiency, it is poised to challenge the world’s most advanced combat aircraft.
Pakistan Air Force to Gain “12-14 Year” Edge Over India with J-35A Fighter Acquisition
https://defencesecurityasia.com/en/pakistan-air-force-to-gain-12-14-year-edge-over-india-with-j-35a-fighter-acquisition/#google_vignette
Reports indicate that China is gearing up for the J-35A’s integration into carrier-based operations, positioning it as a direct rival to the U.S. Navy’s F-35B and F-35C variants developed by Lockheed Martin.
Though its full technical specifications remain shrouded in secrecy, the aircraft’s Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) has reportedly surged from 25,000 kg to 28,000 kg, hinting at increased firepower and endurance.
Powering this stealth marvel are WS-19 engines, each delivering a staggering 12 tons of thrust—an upgrade that solidifies its place as a next-generation powerhouse in the skies.
The fighter jet is equipped with two internal weapons bays, each capable of carrying two medium-range air-to-air missiles.
Additionally, it features external hardpoints for various bombs and missiles, enhancing its multirole combat capabilities.
Pakistan’s decision to procure the J-35A is poised to reshape the regional air power equation, compelling India to accelerate its own efforts to develop or acquire fifth-generation fighter jets.
Trump says US to increase military sales to India, eventually provide F-35 jets | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/markets/commodities/trump-says-india-agreed-purchase-more-us-oil-gas-2025-02-13/
US will raise military sales to India by many billions of dollars, Trump says
Trump’s F-35 offer still a proposal, Indian official says
F-35 purchase process has not started yet, Indian official says
Any talks on F-35 sales will be between governments, Lockheed Martin says
WASHINGTON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - The United States will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and will eventually provide F-35 fighter jets, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday.
"We'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters," Trump told reporters.
Trump did not provide a timeline, but foreign military sales, especially for cutting-edge technology like the stealthy F-35 jet, typically take years to work through.
Pakistan and Türkiye Sign Agreements on EW and Other Projects - Quwa
https://quwa.org/pakistan-defence-industry/pakistan-and-turkiye-sign-agreements-on-ew-and-other-projects/
In terms of defence, the most notable agreements included an MoU for cooperating on air force-related electronic warfare (EW) as well as an MoU between Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) and Pakistan’s Naval Research and Development Institute (NRDI).
Overall, it is unclear how much deal-making progress – if any – the MoUs represent, but these two deals could be a reflection of several ongoing Pakistani defence programs.
MoU on Air Force EW Technology
Through its official calendar and unofficial publication – Second to None – the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had confirmed it was seeking a new airborne stand-off range jamming (ASOJ) aircraft. The PAF also heavily implied that its recently acquired business jet, a single Bombardier Global Express 6000, would be the platform for this ASOJ aircraft.
It is possible that the recently signed MoU involved a commitment to either advance a deal centered on the Aselsan HAVASOJ suite, which could be integrated onto the PAF’s Global Express 6000, or to develop a bespoke solution.
Alternatively, the MoU could also speak to the PAF’s wider EW efforts, which involve a number of different homegrown programs. These programs include a communications EW (C-EW) for communications intelligence (COMINT) and multi-band jamming roles, GPS denial systems, passive electronic intelligence (ELINT) sensors, and many other systems for potential use by both the PAF and the Pakistan Army (PA).
While Pakistan is currently prioritizing domestic EW projects, the likes of the National Aerospace and Science Technology Park (NASTP), Defence Science and Technology Organization (DESTO), or National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) could be interested in drawing on Turkish technology inputs and expertise.
Interest in Turkish inputs would not conflict with Pakistan’s original EW project goals–it would be complementary. Pakistan lacks the industrial capacity to fully source each of the necessary inputs of its defence electronic programs, be it the EW projects or even the up and coming radar projects. Turkish vendors like Aselsan, Havelsan, Meteksan, and others could provide critical inputs, such as transmit/receive modules (TRMs), for example. Likewise, Turkish and Pakistani vendors could collaborate and jointly design and develop original solutions for the Pakistani military.
For example, instead of acquiring the Aselsan HAVASOJ, the PAF’s NASTP could tap Aselsan’s assistance to develop a custom ASOJ for the PAF. In this scenario, the PAF ASOJ would combine Pakistani-designed inputs with Turkish subsystems.
Hello Mr. Vineeth
Thanks for your comments, actually the problem is that their are certain flaws and vulnerabilities in the Indian Airforce manufacturing of Teejas.
Most of the components used in Teejas aircraft eg. Radars, fire control systems and engines are all imported from other countries.
And when Indian Airforce imports these components to add to its fleet of Teejas, the cost of production of Teejas increases and it's total cost becomes almost equal to the cost of F35 aircrafts that America has.
Pakistan, Türkiye to boost R&D collaboration | Daily Sabah
https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/pakistan-turkiye-to-boost-rd-collaboration
Pakistan's commerce minister said Wednesday that Türkiye and Pakistan are dedicated to strengthening cooperation in advanced research and development sectors.
Jam Kamal Khan made the remarks during his visit to the Turkish Aerospace Pakistan office at the National Science and Technology Park in Islamabad, a statement by his ministry said.
The visit aimed to highlight the growing collaboration between the two countries, as well as to explore the innovative initiatives being undertaken within Pakistan’s advanced research and development sectors.
Turkish Ambassador Irfan Neziroglu, who received the minister, underscored the strong bilateral relations and Türkiye’s commitment to fostering technological and economic cooperation with Pakistan.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is a leading player in the aerospace and defense industry, known for its advanced technological capabilities and cutting-edge defense solutions.
Turkish Aerospace Pakistan focuses on strengthening collaboration in the aerospace and defense sectors while providing opportunities for technology transfer, research and development, knowledge exchange, and innovation.
Khan expressed support for the ongoing efforts at Turkish Aerospace Pakistan and emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships between the government, academia, and the private sector.
"The visit further strengthened Pakistan’s commitment to building a robust aerospace and technology ecosystem that can contribute to the country’s economic and technological growth,’ the statement said.
Last week, Pakistan and Türkiye signed 24 cooperation agreements during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visit to Islamabad. The deals included a memorandum between TAI and the Pakistan Maritime Research and Development Institute.
William Huo
@wmhuo168
China claims to have built a jet fuel-powered engine for Mach 16 flight—faster than any known aircraft. If true, this rewrites the rules of war, rendering missile defenses obsolete. Game-changer or hype? Let’s break it down.
https://x.com/wmhuo168/status/1895319837569917216
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China’s Mach 16 Engine SpaceRacer6 on TikTok
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2H5ckPw/
Sushant Singh
@SushantSin
The IAF is in a crisis. There is no way to hide it any longer. It has been created by bad decisions of civilian leadership and meekness of military leadership. The buck stops only with the top political leadership, not with the civilian bureaucracy or HAL.
https://x.com/SushantSin/status/1898061895174660395
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New Delhi: In what turned out to be a woeful day for the Indian Air Force, two aircraft including a fighter jet crashed on Friday.
Thankfully the pilots and crew are safe. An IAF Jaguar combat jet crashed in Haryana but the pilot ejected safely. Later an AN-32 transport aircraft crash landed at Bagdogra airport in West Bengal.
“A Jaguar aircraft of the IAF crashed at Ambala, during a routine training sortie today, after encountering system malfunction. The pilot manoeuvred the aircraft away from any habitation on ground, before ejecting safely. An inquiry has been ordered ...
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/india/haryana/india-witnesses-two-aircraft-mishap-on-a-single-day-3436962
India (8.3%) is the second largest importer of arms over the last 5 years (2019-2024). Ukraine (8.8%) is first. Pakistan (4.6%) 4th, according to SIPRI.
India's arms imports mainly from Russia, France and Israel.
Ukraine's from US, Germany and Poland.
Pakistan's from China, Netherlands and Turkey
https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2025/ukraine-worlds-biggest-arms-importer-united-states-dominance-global-arms-exports-grows-russian
https://indianexpress.com/article/trending/top-10-listing/top-10-largest-arms-importing-countries-2020-2024-indias-position-revealed-9880245/
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Chinese arms made up 81 per cent of Pakistan’s weapons imports in the past five years, as Islamabad buys more advanced systems from its long-standing Asian defence partner, according to data from Swedish think tank SIPRI.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3302515/china-supplied-81-pakistans-arms-imports-past-5-years-sipri-says
That was up 7 percentage points from the previous five-year period to 2019, when 74 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports came from China, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute database shows.
The boost comes amid a huge push in China to improve self-reliance in its defence industry – from aircraft carriers to sixth-generation fighter jets – which has also seen it expand the range of weapons it can offer to its strategic partners.
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“The apparent willingness of China to supply or at least talk about supplying some of its more advanced weapons to Pakistan shows China’s trust in Pakistan,” said Siemon Wezeman, a senior arms transfers researcher at SIPRI.
China has been Pakistan’s primary arms supplier since the 1990s. But Pakistan’s tensions with India – especially since a series of border skirmishes broke out in 2016 – have prompted Islamabad to increase defence spending, and that has drawn it closer to Beijing.
Beijing avoids formal alliances but Wezeman said it could be seen as “Pakistan’s only real ‘ally’, the only one to depend on when dealing with India”.
At the same time, Pakistan plays a similar role for Beijing and is “the only one that at this moment could give China a secure access to a base on the Indian Ocean and near the Middle East”.
In April last year, China launched the first of eight Hangor II submarines to be delivered to Pakistan in a deal worth around US$5 billion – one of the most valuable military contracts China has signed.
According to the SIPRI database, some of Pakistan’s key orders in the past five years include the country’s first spy ship, the Rizwan, more than 600 VT-4 battle tanks, and 36 J-10CE 4.5-generation fighters.
The first delivery of multirole J-10CE fighter jets arrived in Pakistan in 2022, adding to its JF-17 fighters – a backbone model that makes up the bulk of Pakistan’s fleet.
The fourth-generation JF-17 was jointly developed by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in a programme that dates back to 1999.
The Block III version of JF-17 – featuring an active electronically scanned array radar – was inducted by the Pakistan Air Force in 2023.
Song Zhongping, a military commentator and former PLA instructor, said China might also export its fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35, “if Pakistan requests it”.
He said that since India was considering adding the American F-35 or Russian Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets to its fleet, Pakistan was likely to be considering its options too.
China also delivered a range of surface-to-air missiles and defence systems to Pakistan between 2020 and 2024, according to SIPRI. They included a long-range HQ-9 system with around 70 missiles, some 200 medium-range LY-80s, and about 890 low-altitude portable FN-6 missiles.
Pakistan Air Force showcases advanced Chinese weapons as tensions escalate with India | South China Morning Post
The PAF releases footage highlighting its ‘potent’ PL-15 missiles and a radar system described as a ‘game-changer’
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3308808/pakistan-air-force-showcases-advanced-chinese-weapons-tensions-escalate-india
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has released footage showing it has armed its combat aircraft with long-range Chinese missiles.
The footage, published online on Tuesday comes amid spiralling tensions with India following a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month that killed 26 people. New Delhi has blamed Pakistan for the incident, but Islamabad has denied any links to the attackers.
The three-minute video showed warplanes, including the JF-17 fighter, armed with Chinese-made PL-15 missiles and described them as the “PAF’s potent punch”.
The PL-15, originally developed for the fifth-generation J-20 stealth fighter, is China’s most advanced fighter-to-fighter missile and is reported to have an engagement range of 200km to 300km (125-185 miles).
Although other weapons that featured in the video were labelled as being the export version, the PAF did not say
However, military analysts also said Pakistan’s biggest advantage was likely to lie in the Chinese-made active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar system fitted to the JF-17.
Jointly developed by Pakistan and China, the JF-17 is a lightweight, fourth-generation multirole fighter. The planes have featured in previous clashes between the Indian and Pakistani militaries and are confirmed to have shot down an Indian MiG-21 in 2019.
Retired Taiwanese major general Li Cheng-chieh told the Taiwanese broadcaster CTi on Tuesday that the Chinese-made KLJ-7A radar was the “real game-changer” for the JF-17, adding that “situational awareness is the first priority in modern warfare”.
The KLJ-7A can detect fighter-sized targets at 170km and track them at 120km. It can simultaneously monitor 15 targets and engage four.
India’s air force is equipped with Russian MiGs and French Rafale jets, but the Doppler radar fitted to the latter has a lock-on range of 60km and is no match for the system used by the PAF, according to Li.
“The KLJ-7A offers 360-degree coverage and can lock on to threats at more than twice the range of the Rafale’s radar,” Li said.
Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, also said radar and air-to-air missiles were the key elements in modern aerial warfare and said: “This shift allows lightweight platforms like Pakistan’s JF-17 to challenge India’s heavier jets.”
Fu said Pakistan’s advanced Chinese-made equipment could create a clear asymmetric advantage. “If tensions escalate, the side that sees first and fires first may well reshape the balance of power in South Asia’s skies.”
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According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, which cited an unnamed Pakistani military official, four Indian Rafale fighter jets were detected over the disputed region and later retreated after Pakistan scrambled its own warplanes.
The PAF video also featured an array of other Chinese made weapons, including surface-to-air missiles, early warning aircraft and the J-10CE, another fourth-plus generation multirole fighter.
Data released by the Aviation Industry Corporation of China in 2022 suggested the J-10CE matched the PLA’s J-10C, with a top speed of Mach 1.8, a service ceiling of 18,000 metres (59,000 feet), and a combat radius of 1,240km – extendable to 2,600km with refuelling.
The J-10CE reportedly features 1,200 transmit-receive radar modules – about 50 per cent more than the Rafale – giving it an edge in beyond-visual-range combat.
Retired Air Commodore Khalid Farooq told Pakistan’s Public News channel on Saturday that the J-10CE surpassed the Rafale in key combat areas. “India has just bought Rafale … a good aircraft, but we are ahead in first-look and first-shot capability,” he said.
Beijing's equipment gains battlefield recognition as Pakistan air force shoots down rival at 100km
by Thomas Harding, security and policy editor covering Westminster politics and European affairs
https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/asia/2025/05/09/india-pakistan-aerial-combat-chinese-air-to-air-missiles/
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At least one of the French-supplied advanced Rafale fighters was destroyed by a hypersonic PL-15 missile fired by the Pakistan Air Force from a distance of more than 100km on Wednesday, it has been reported.
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Another key point, also witnessed in the Russian-Ukraine war, is that electronic warfare is becoming vital to battlefield survival, with the Indian aircraft not apparently equipped with a key radar jammer unlike British and US jets.
China has invested heavily in what experts called “a gold standard” Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar capability, which allows it to miniaturise the system and put it inside a 200kg missile. By comparison Raytheon's Phantomstrike missile is miniaturised at 60kg.
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“We've now seen Chinese weapons in action and the big question mark over the Chinese military build-up has been is their stuff actually any good?” said Tim Ripley, editor of the Defence Eye website. “This suggests that it is.”
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Once fired the PL-15E is blasted by a rocket booster to hypersonic speed of Mach 5 (6,200kph) then guided onto target by the J-10C fighter’s radar before, in the closing stages, switching to its own Aesa radar.
It can then hone in with accuracy with a second burst of speed being injected about 10km from target making it extremely difficult to evade.
Radar jammers
However, if the Rafales had been fitted with Aesa, then this would likely have picked up the threat from some distance.
An Aesa radar would have potentially allowed the Rafale to jam the Pakistan fighter and the missile in its closing stages as it allows the jet to create of beam of focused electronic noise.
“It makes it really quick to neutralise a threat from one of these missiles,” said Mr Ripley.
However, even if equipped with Aesa it is questionable whether the Rafale could have dodged the missile, said a leading defence company aviation expert.
While the radar “would help” its defences, missiles such as the PL-15E are so potent that “once you've been locked on by one it's very difficult to get away from the kill zone because those missiles are so quick,” he added.
Furthermore, if the missile detects jamming then it has the ability to quickly jump to another frequency.
French blushes
What is certain is that the Rafale wreckage, found near the Indian city of Bathinda, will be “pored over by the French because they really will want to know what happened,” said Paul Beaver, a military aviation expert.
Further humiliation for the Indians, as well as the French, was that its air force operates a wing of 36 Rafale F3Rs, the warplane’s most advanced version.
The aviation company source called it a “big, big blow to the French” because Rafale had been “touted as a cheap alternative” to the RAF Typhoon and American fighters.
“While pilot training could be part of the problem if you don't have the best equipment, then you are at a disadvantage,” he added.
There is a suggestion that the shoot-downs could be attributed to pilot error although it also proves Pakistan’s aerial combat skills.
“This demonstrates that the Pakistan Air Force is as effective as everyone always thinks it is. It's smaller than India’s but makes up for it in training and motivation,” Mr Beaver said.
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Distant dogfights
The aerial battle also marks the start of a new era of aerial warfare in which the incident showed the “very interesting development in long range missile snipers,” said Mr Ripley.
“Long range air-to-air combat is now a big trend in aerial warfare,” he added. “On the back of this lots of the air forces will be busy trying to revamp their electronic warfare effectiveness trying to neutralise these missiles. It’s a big growth area.”
India confirms Chinese missiles used by Pakistan in strikes
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/05/13/india-says-chinese-missiles-used-by-pakistan-in-strikes/
India has confirmed Pakistan used Chinese-made missiles during the recent cross-border military strikes.
Air Marshal AK Bharti, India’s director general air operations, said Indian forces had intercepted and neutralised a range of hi-tech foreign weapons used by Pakistan, including the Chinese-origin PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile and Turkish Byker YIHA III Kamikaze drones.
“You can see the pieces of it on the screen,” AM Bharti said during a media briefing, pointing to the debris of a PL-15 missile recovered from a field in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, bordering Pakistan in northern India.
Pakistan claims it shot down five Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafales.
A French intelligence source told CNN that a Rafale jet had indeed been downed during exchanges of fire.
Delhi sidestepped a question on whether it had lost jets, saying instead that all its pilots were safe.
The PL-15, developed by China’s Aviation Industry Corporation, is designed to strike high-value airborne targets at ranges exceeding 200km.
In public, Beijing has so far struck a diplomatic tone on the crisis between two South Asian neighbours that were brought back from an all-out-war through back-channel talks.
But in private, a Chinese delegation travelled to the Pakistani foreign ministry in the middle of the night to celebrate the success of the missile strikes.
India’s decision to name China in the recent crisis signals growing alarm in New Delhi over deepening military cooperation between the arch rivals.
The Pakistani and Chinese militaries are hosting joint exercises and sharing common weapon platforms.
The Chinese are also sharing their intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with Pakistan.
Officers are embedded in the military commands of each other’s nations, such as Pakistani officers placed in China’s Central Military Commission and Western Theatre Command at Chengdu, which oversees the operational frontier with India.
The PL-15 missile, which has never before been used in combat, is powered by a dual-pulse motor that propels it to hypersonic speeds exceeding Mach 5.
“Because they are very, very fast, they basically have what you call a ‘no-escape zone’,” said Fabian Hoffmann, a missile technology researcher and fellow at the Centre for European Policy Analysis.
The confirmation comes just days after Pakistan’s army published a YouTube video showcasing its military arsenal, including a Chinese-made JF-17 Block 3 fighter jet, less advanced than the J-10C, equipped with PL-15 missiles. The combination offers “potent punch”, a caption reads.
Analysts believe one of these missiles may have been used to shoot down a Rafale fighter deep inside Indian territory in a long-range “stand-off” engagement in which neither side crossed the
The wreckage of a Rafale was reportedly found near Bathinda in Punjab in northern India.
The apparent involvement of Chinese aircraft in shooting down a Rafale has ricocheted through defence circles – and sent stock in its maker, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, surging by as much as 20 per cent.
Until now, Chinese weaponry had not been field-tested against Western-made systems like the Rafale.
The Indian Air Force operates a fleet of 36 Rafale F3Rs, the most advanced model of the aircraft.
Hu Jixin, the former editor of the Chinese state-owned Global Times, said the battle showed “China’s level of military manufacturing has completely surpassed that of Russia and France”, adding that Taiwan should feel “even more scared”.
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