J-10C Breaks the Barrier: Pakistan-India Air War Forces Global Rethink of Chinese Military Tech

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — At Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition 2025 (LIMA 2025), China’s J-10CE multirole fighter—an export derivative of its frontline J-10C—has emerged as a focal point of global attention at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi, serving as a potent symbol of Beijing’s ascension in the high-end tactical aircraft market.

According to China’s Global Times, “The J-10CE, the export version of the J-10C, became the main highlight at China’s booth following its recent success in actual combat operations, attracting the curiosity of international observers keen to examine the aircraft up close.”

Presented by state-owned defence exporter China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), the J-10CE’s appearance in Langkawi is more than an arms expo attraction—it is a direct geopolitical challenge to the entrenched dominance of Western and Russian aerospace defence giants.

Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIG), the J-10C is now being aggressively positioned as a cost-effective yet technically formidable solution for air forces in the Global South, including Malaysia, which is currently evaluating its options for fighter fleet modernisation.

Though showcased only in scale model form at the exhibition, the J-10CE’s visibility is dramatically amplified by its alleged combat achievements during the most recent and rapidly escalating skirmish between Pakistan and India.

Reports indicate that during the early phases of the conflict, Pakistan Air Force J-10Cs scored multiple air-to-air kills, including the downing of three Indian Air Force Rafale fighters—marking what may be the first high-intensity combat deployment of China’s PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile.

These claims, echoed by several defence analysts from the United States, France and other Western nations, suggest that additional Indian jets—a Su-30MKI, a MiG-29, and a Mirage 2000—were also neutralised in the same engagement.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated unequivocally that all five downed IAF aircraft were eliminated by PAF J-10Cs using PL-15E missiles, with an additional Mirage 2000 reportedly destroyed in a follow-up strike.

If independently verified, these events would signify a watershed moment for Chinese aerospace credibility—transforming the J-10C from an export ambition into a combat-proven force multiplier with strategic deterrent value.

A Chinese military affairs analyst told Global Times that the J-10 series has “profoundly reshaped the global perception of the Chinese military and China’s defence industrial capabilities, even the landscape of global defence industry.”

Western narratives have often oversimplified the J-10 program as merely an indigenous Chinese development, but defence expert Zhang Xuefeng argues the jet represents far more than that.

He asserts that the J-10 program enabled China to master advanced aerodynamic configurations, pioneer digital fly-by-wire flight control with full authority and quadruple redundancy, and develop high-thrust turbofan engines.

Zhang adds that the J-10 was the first platform to incorporate a fully integrated, digital avionics suite developed in-house, significantly enhancing operational effectiveness and providing the technical scaffolding for China’s next-generation fighter programs.

China also established an entirely new aircraft manufacturing ecosystem for the J-10, centred on digital machining, composite airframe construction, and titanium alloy fabrication—key features that now underpin the evolution of the country’s sixth-generation aircraft.

Since its induction into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2006, the J-10 has become one of the service’s principal tactical aircraft, frequently showcased at military parades, joint exercises, and high-profile international airshows.

The J-10C represents the most advanced iteration of the platform, boasting significant upgrades including an AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, integrated mission computers, and the ability to fire extended-range BVR missiles such as the PL-15.

With a top speed of Mach 2, an operational ceiling of 18,000 metres, and a combat radius between 1,100 and 1,500 km, the J-10C is designed for sustained multirole missions including air dominance, precision strike, and maritime interdiction.

It is powered by the Chinese-developed WS-10B turbofan engine and features a glass cockpit, helmet-mounted display (HMD), and seamless data fusion across mission systems.

The aircraft’s delta-canard layout ensures superior agility in close air combat while maintaining high aerodynamic efficiency at supersonic speeds.

By integrating modern composite structures and radar cross-section-reducing features, the J-10C also offers limited stealth capabilities, further increasing survivability in contested environments.

The J-10C is not merely a tactical asset for China’s airpower but a symbol of its global defence export ambitions, now validated in combat and gaining traction among prospective buyers such as Pakistan and potentially other Asian, Middle Eastern, and African air forces.

Current estimates suggest that the PLAAF operates approximately 220 J-10C units across key strategic theatres, making it one of the most numerous advanced platforms in China’s fast-growing fighter inventory.

Known PLAAF Brigades Operating the J-10C:

Northern Theatre Command:

• 2nd Air Brigade, Yulong Airbase (Chifeng, Inner Mongolia)

• 34th Air Brigade, Daishuipo Airbase (Weifang, Shandong)

Western Theatre Command:

• 18th Air Brigade, Lintao Airbase (Dingxi, Gansu)

Southern Theatre Command:

• 124th Air Brigade, Tianyang Airbase (Baise, Guangxi)

• 130th Air Brigade, Mengzi Airbase (Yunnan)

Key Specifications of the J-10C Multirole Fighter:

Airframe and Aerodynamics:

• Canard-delta configuration for optimal high-angle-of-attack performance

• Composite-metal hybrid structure with reduced radar signature

Propulsion and Flight Envelope:

• Single WS-10B turbofan engine

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0

• Service ceiling: 18,000 metres

• Combat radius: 1,100–1,500 km

• Ferry range: Over 3,000 km with drop tanks

Avionics and Combat Systems:

• Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar

• Full-authority digital fly-by-wire flight control

• HMD, glass cockpit, and integrated mission architecture

Electronic Warfare (EW) and Survivability:

• RWR, ECM pods, IRST, and countermeasure dispensers

• Integrated threat detection and self-protection suite

Armament:

• 11 hardpoints for multirole loadouts

 

Air-to-Air Missiles:

• PL-15 (BVR, active radar, >200 km)

• PL-10 (IR-guided short-range with high off-boresight targeting)

• PL-8, PL-12 (legacy variants)

Air-to-Surface and Anti-Ship:

• KD-88 (precision-guided standoff)

• YJ-91 (anti-radiation/anti-ship)

• LS-6 and LT-2 guided munitions

The emergence of the J-10C as a validated combat platform—complete with advanced avionics, long-range missiles, and credible export appeal—marks a turning point in the global fighter jet landscape, with China now asserting itself as a serious contender in the fifth-generation arms race.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA