Pakistan AirForce (PAF) Acquires Chinese J-10C Fighter Aircraft

During last week Chinese internet forums have started sharing images of J-10C fighter aircraft with marking of the Pakistan Airforce (PAF) which are equipped with Chinese developed WS-10B Taihang turbofan engines. This makes Pakistan as first country to purchase Chinese 4.5 generation J-10C fighter aircraft. PAF will also be first user of WS-10B engines outside People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).

Interior Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Skeish Rashid Ahmed have already claimed in December last year that first batch of J-10Cs will be inducted in March 20222 and will participate in Pakistan's Republic Day on 23 March, 2022.

Chinese J-10C is 4.5+ generation fighter aircraft is equipped with radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3 

Bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) will allow Pakistan air force to fully exploit long range of PL-15 Long Range Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) and  newly developed,  highly agile PL-10 short range air-to-air missile which is hard to shake off 

Pakistani purchase of J-10C doesn't mean that Pakistan Air force will scale back production of JF-17 Block III. When compared to light weight JF_17, medium tech J-10C offers additional capabilities which includes 

·        Better kinetic performance

·        Better maneuverability

·        Bigger AESA Radar to fully exploit long range of PL-15

·        IRIST sensor for passive detection

·        Wide range of already integrated weapons

·        Future developments are already underway and costs are by PLAAF

·        Better thrust to weight

·        Long range

Pakistani J-10C will have new narrow frame holographic HUD (head-up display) and Pakistani specific datalink antenna.