Pakistani officials claim that the J-10C jets were able to interfere with the Rafale’s advanced radar and communication system, causing its downfall.
As tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad continue to escalate, Pakistani officials have praised their country’s fleet of Chinese-made J-10 fighter jets for their role in repelling Indian strikes. Chinese defense stocks have surged following Islamabad’s assessment of the aircraft. According to Chinese state-run media outlets, Shenzhen-listed stocks of AVIC Chengdu Aircraft increased more than 17 percent, marking the most significant gain since last fall.
In response to the launch of India’s Operation Sindoor targeting terror-affiliated training camps in Pakistan in retaliation for the April Pahalgam attack, Pakistan has alleged to have shot down at least five Indian fighters, reportedly using its J-10 jets. According to Islamabad, Pakistani J-10 jets successfully took down four different types of aircraft, including a French-designed 4.5-generation Rafale fighter operated by the Indian Air Force. Additionally, Pakistan reportedly targeted a Soviet-made MiG-29 and a Su-30 also flown by the Indian Air Force.
Chinese media has endorsed claims made by Pakistani defense minister Khwaja Asif that J-10C jets were effectively able to interfere with the Rafale’s advanced radar and communication system, causing its downfall in the skies. However, independent verification of how these Indian jets were lost has not been confirmed.
An Overview of the J-10 Fighter
Designated by NATO as “Firebird,” the Chengdu J-10 ”Vigorous Dragon” has remained in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force for nearly two decades. When China’s State Council first approved the J-10 program during the Cold War, the new prototype was expected to primarily fulfill an air-to-air combat role. Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute (CADI) constructed the jet from the ground up. Featuring a delta wing, single engine, and forward canard, the J-10 was certainly more sophisticated than its Chinese-made predecessors. Initial J-10 prototypes were equipped with the Russian-made AL-31 engine, enabling a top speed of Mach 1.8 (times the speed of sound). The newest J-10C variant, which is flown by Pakistan, hosts several advanced attributes that make it a more modern platform. The WS-10B engine replaced its Russian counterpart. Additionally, the J-10C features an improved inlet design that minimizes its radar profile, making it more challenging for adversarial aircraft to detect in the skies.
Pakistan formerly confirmed its procurement of the Chinese-made Firebird fighter series back in 2022. In a public address at the time, Pakistan’s interior minister, Rasheed Ahmed, linked this acquisition to India’s growing fleet of Rafale jets. According to Defense News, Islamabad’s interest in the Chinese platform dates back further. The country was first interested in the export variant of the Firebird in 2015, however, plans to purchase the series fell through due to budgetary constraints.
While the J-10C is considered to be on par with the American-made F-16 fighter, analysts widely concur that the Chinese jet is lagging behind the Rafale when it comes to advanced electronic warfare capabilities. Until a thorough report investigating the downing of India’s Rafale fighters is released, it will be difficult to pinpoint exactly what transpired in the skies.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: rehan waheed / Shutterstock.com
