In competition with India, Pakistan buys 25 Chinese J-10C fighter jets

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Pakistan has bought 25 Chinese multirole J-10C fighter jets, equal to a full squadron, which will be displayed before VIP guests on March 23, Pakistan's national day.<br />
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Pakistan's Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told journalists in Rawalpindi on Wednesday that Pakistan has purchased a full squadron of 25 all-weather J-10C aircraft in response to India's purchase of Rafale aircraft. He said that the aircraft will be inducted into service as early as March 2022.<br />
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The J-10C, is the latest and the most modern version of the Chinese jets, was part of the <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1211811.shtml">joint exercise between the two countries</a> held in December 2020. Pakistani experts took a good look at the jets during the 20-day exercises, called the Shaheen-IX joint air exercises.<br />
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Though Pakistan has a fleet of US-made F-16s, comparable to the French Rafale, it was looking for a new multirole all-weather jet in response to India's Rafale purchase from France.<br />
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Pakistan also has over 100 Chinese JF-17 fighters–currently the mainstay of its air force. The JF-17 are co-produced by Pakistan and China.<br />
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The Pakistani media had been reporting the country's intention to procure the Chinese jets for the last many years. In mid-December, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan, from the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had said that he did not “understand the logic behind buying J-10C”, as Pakistan already possessed a fighter in a similar class as the J-10.<br />
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Afnan Ullah Khan even said that the J-10C was not as good as the Rafale.<br />
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However, experts believe that the J-10C has electronically scanned array radar (AESA) which provides enhanced situation awareness and is capable of firing the very-long-range PL-15 air-to-air missile. Also, it can carry a heavier payload of weapons and is more agile than the JF-17 fighter, which the PAF currently operates.</p>