House for Strategic & International Affairs (HSIA) posted on Twitter, “Pakistan is set to receive 36 J-10C semi-stealth, 4.5 gen advanced fighter Jets from China by the end of 2021.” In 2009, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) planned to offer the J-10 and the CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder for export. The J-10 was offered to Pakistan in 2006 and negotiations persisted into 2012. In September 2020, it was reported that Pakistan was interested in the J-10CE that are often compared with the American F-16s.
During Shaheen-9 joint air exercises held in January 2021 which saw participation of these two countries, China’s J-10C and J-11B fighters simulated India Air Force Dassult Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30 jets respectively in mock battles. Air Forces from both sides focused on large scale confrontation, including large scale aerial battles and use of forces in mass and close-quarters aerial support. More than 200 sorties were conducted by both sides, to boost combat capabilities in learning from each other.
The Chengdu J-10 (NATO reporting name: Firebird) also known as Vigorous Dragon (MÄ›nglóng),is a single-engine, lightweight multirole fighter capable of all-weather operation, configured with a delta wing and canard design,[8] with fly-by-wire flight controls, and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-10 is mainly designed for air-to-air combat, but may also perform strike missions. The J-10 is externally similar to the IAI Lavi. There have been no public statements or formal claims along those lines.
The J-10’s internal armament consists of a Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-23 twin-barrel cannon. Air-to-air missiles deployed may include short-range air-to-air missiles such as the PL-8 and PL-10 (on J-10C), medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missiles such as the PL-12 and PL-15 (on J-10C), unguided and precision guided munitions such as laser-guided bombs, air-to-surface missile such as KD-88,anti-ship missiles such as the YJ-91A[32] and anti-radiation missiles such as the YJ-91. Other weaponry is mounted externally on 11 hardpoints can be attached.
