Pakistan and China Wage Psychological Air War with J-10C Kill Marks Targeting India’s Rafale Prestige

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In a calculated display of psychological warfare, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has mirrored a recent Chinese air force manoeuvre by unveiling one of its J-10C fighter jets adorned with a “kill mark” signifying the downing of an Indian Air Force Rafale during the most recent cross-border conflict.

Images circulating on social media yesterday revealed a Chinese-built J-10C fighter operated by the PAF bearing the symbolic marking of an Indian Rafale—an unmistakable nod to what Pakistan claims as an aerial victory against one of the most advanced fighters in South Asia.

This latest move comes just days after the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) was seen displaying similar kill markings on one of its J-10Cs, showcasing what it claimed were six Indian military aircraft and UAVs brought down during the recent hostilities along the Line of Control.

This latest move comes just days after the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) was seen displaying similar kill markings on one of its J-10Cs, showcasing what it claimed were six Indian military aircraft and UAVs brought down during the recent hostilities along the Line of Control.

The PAF’s use of visual markings—especially those referencing India’s state-of-the-art Rafales—is widely viewed as a psychological tactic aimed at undermining India’s air superiority narrative and reshaping regional perceptions of power asymmetry.

Among Indian observers, particularly online, the move has drawn criticism and skepticism, with netizens condemning the PLAAF’s kill display as premature and unverified, noting the absence of any official confirmation from New Delhi regarding aircraft losses.

The PLAAF J-10C in question reportedly displayed kill markings for three Indian Rafales, one Su-30MKI, one MiG-29, and an Israeli-origin Heron MALE UAV, allegedly destroyed during engagements involving Pakistan’s air force.

Defence analysts interpret the PLAAF’s gesture not as a claim of direct Chinese engagement but as a show of solidarity with its close military ally, Pakistan, with whom it shares strategic alignment and interoperable fourth-plus generation combat platforms.

The J-10C, developed by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, represents a major leap in Chinese airpower export capability, featuring AESA radar, electronic warfare systems, and full compatibility with China’s cutting-edge PL-series air-to-air missiles.

Kill marks—traditionally painted symbols near the cockpit of a combat aircraft—are visual representations of successful engagements, dating back to the Second World War and still practiced in modern air forces to commemorate kills or mission victories.

In modern usage, such markings often serve a dual purpose: recognising aircrew performance while delivering a powerful psychological signal to adversaries and domestic audiences alike.

The six kill marks on the PLAAF J-10C are widely interpreted as referring to victories actually achieved by the Pakistan Air Force using the same aircraft type during recent armed clashes with India, ahead of the bilateral ceasefire agreement.

Pakistan has claimed these air-to-air kills were accomplished using the PL-15 missile—a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) developed by China—providing PAF pilots with first-look, first-shoot advantage against Indian fighters.

Adding fuel to the controversy, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif asserted publicly yesterday that a sixth Indian fighter, a Mirage 2000, had also been downed by the PAF over Pampore, east of Srinagar, during night operations on May 6–7.

This claim, if accurate, raises the total number of downed Indian aircraft to six, including three Rafales—figures that, if officially confirmed, would signify a major degradation in India’s frontline air assets.

Despite mounting visual and circumstantial evidence, the Indian government and military remain tight-lipped about the alleged losses, maintaining strategic silence as analysts press for clarity on the status of its high-value fighters.

In a rare public comment, Air Marshal A.K. Bharti of the Indian Air Force responded vaguely when asked about the Rafales, stating only, “We are in a wartime scenario; losses are part of the battle,” without elaborating further.

Defence observers see Bharti’s statement as a tacit admission that losses may indeed have occurred, particularly given the lack of any formal denial or press conference clarifying the situation.

The suspected weapon system behind these engagements—the PL-15 missile—is a Chinese-designed BVR missile capable of Mach 4 speeds, equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar seeker for long-range engagements in heavily contested electromagnetic environments.

Developed by the China Airborne Missile Academy (CAMA), a branch of AVIC, the PL-15 has positioned China as a peer competitor to Western missile manufacturers, offering an indigenous alternative to systems like the AIM-120D and Meteor.

The integration of the PL-15 onto PAF J-10C fighters has significantly enhanced Pakistan’s ability to hold Indian assets at risk beyond visual range, especially in engagements where electromagnetic jamming, radar spoofing, and sensor fusion are in play.

The J-10C “Vigorous Dragon,” which forms the backbone of the PLAAF’s fourth-generation fleet, has now become a vital part of Pakistan’s airpower doctrine, particularly in response to India’s acquisition of Rafales from France.

As of Q1 2025, the PLAAF operates over 300 J-10C aircraft, making it one of the most numerous and strategically deployed combat platforms in China’s arsenal, used across multiple theatres from the Western Pacific to South Asia.

Pakistan took delivery of its first batch of J-10Cs on 4 March 2022, with a formal commissioning ceremony held at Minhas Airbase on 11 March that same year—an event seen by many analysts as a direct countermeasure to India’s growing Rafale fleet.

The J-10C procurement was initially announced in December 2021 with 25 aircraft ordered, with deliveries timed to align with Pakistan’s Republic Day celebration, symbolising a leap in indigenous and alliance-backed air capability.

Since then, deliveries have continued, and Islamabad is reportedly in advanced negotiations to expand the order to as many as 60 units, signaling Pakistan’s intent to solidify its fourth-generation fleet and enhance deterrence credibility along its eastern borders.

Seen through a broader lens, the deployment of kill marks by both China and Pakistan reflects a new kind of battlefield signalling—one that blends visual storytelling, strategic messaging, and combat readiness in an era where information dominance is as decisive as kinetic superiority.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA