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Pakistan confirms Chinese J-10C ‘Firebird’ fighter buy (Read 187 times)

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Pakistan confirms Chinese J-10C ‘Firebird’ fighter buy
Jan 3^rd, 2022 at 3:11pm

Quote:

Pakistan confirms Chinese ‘Firebird’ fighter acquisition

By Usman Ansari
Jan 3, 02:32 PM

Four Chengdu J-10 fighter jets of China's Bayi flight demonstration team perform at a media preview of the Singapore Airshow on Feb. 9, 2020. (Mike Yeo/Staff)

Quote:

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has officially confirmed its long-speculated acquisition of the Chinese J-10C “Firebird” fighter, which is slated to arrive in time to take part in the March 23 Pakistan Day parade.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Pakistan’s interior minister, told the media last week the country has acquired 25 aircraft. He linked them as a counter to India’s recently-inducted Rafale.

He did not detail the value of the deal, and a source familiar with Pakistan’s military acquisition programs said he does not know if the fighters are “purchased or loaned to Pakistan’s air force.”

However, the source said he is “more inclined to the latter as [China’s air force] may have given a few units to the Pakistan Air Force to test on a delayed cost basis.”

Richard Fisher, a senior fellow at the International Assessment and Strategy Center, told Defense News there “is imagery suggesting that finished J-10Cs at the Chengdu factory are ready for near immediate transfer.”

Pakistan’s interest in the J-10 spans over 10 years. The country was first interested in the FC-20 export variant of the single seat J-10A. This was part of the wider Armed Forces Development Plan 2015, derailed by a lack of funding by the 2008-2013 Pakistan Peoples Party administration.

Pakistan’s interest in the FC-20 was partially driven by a need to complement its F-16, when further acquisition of that program appeared unlikely.

Pakistan also reportedly examined acquiring the Russian Su-35 “Flanker-E,” potentially to help better cover naval operations in the Arabian Sea.

When speculation first arose of a Pakistani J-10C purchase in early 2021, it was linked with one of the Pakistan Air Force squadrons based in Karachi.

China’s naval air arm, the PLANAF, operates the earlier J-10AH and J-10SH Firebird variants from shore as multirole aircraft.

Though unconfirmed, Pakistan may operate its aircraft similarly. Pakistan’s Firebirds are believed to be the J-10CE export variant of the latest J-10C, featuring an AESA radar and long range PL-15 air-to-air missiles. Twenty-five aircraft could equip two squadrons of 12 aircraft.

Royal United Services Institute airspace analyst Justin Bronk said the J-10C will significantly boost Pakistan’s air power.

“The J-10C is a potent modern multirole light fighter, which represents a rough Chinese equivalent to a modern F-16 Block 60/70,″ he said.

However, he noted it’s not quite on a par with the Rafale.

“The AESA radar and access to the long-ranged PL-15 air-to-air missile make it a potentially serious long range threat to non-stealth aircraft, although it might still struggle as a counter to India’s Rafale at long ranges. The latter’s superior kinematic performance and access to the Meteor missile providing a decent counter to the PL-15″, Bronk said. “The J-10C is also unlikely to be able to match the Rafale for electronic warfare capabilities.”

Info via https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2022/01/03/pakistan-confirms-chi...

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