Key points
- Pakistan shot down Indian Rafale jets using the Chinese-made J-10C, sparking regional debate over air superiority and defence capabilities
- The documentary frames the J-10C as a symbol of China’s aerospace innovation and growing defence ties with Pakistan, as the jet gains global attention for its performance
ISLAMABAD: Riding the winds of victory, China has spotlighted Pakistan’s successful use of its state-of-the-art J-10C fighter jets in a televised documentary aired on state-run TV, hailing the aircraft’s combat debut during recent tensions with India.
The documentary celebrates what it describes as the “first real battle victory” of the J-10CE- the export version of China’s 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet, after it played a central role in a high-stakes dogfight on May 7.
During the encounter, Pakistan downed three Indian Rafale jets along with other aircraft using the Chinese-made J-10C, a move that has rippled through regional defence circles and ignited fresh debates over air superiority in South Asia.
A game changer
In the China Central Television (CCTV) feature, the J-10CE is portrayed as a game-changer, noting its ability to eliminate multiple enemy jets in combat without suffering losses. This direct reference to the Kashmir theatre underscores not only the aircraft’s performance but also its role in the shifting dynamics of regional deterrence.
Chinese defence experts and military commentators interviewed in the programme lauded the jet as a symbol of China’s self-reliant aerospace innovation.
China’s bold response
Designed in 1982 by Song Wencong of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, the J-10 was China’s bold response to lagging behind American and Soviet air power during the Cold War. Its first model took flight in 1997- what Chinese engineers proudly call “a miracle in the history of air defence.”
Armed with advanced AESA radar, stealth features, precision avionics, and the long-range PL-15 missile, the J-10C reflects decades of Chinese engineering breakthroughs, particularly in aerodynamics, flight control, and turbofan propulsion.
Centre of Global focus
The aircraft is also drawing global attention at the ongoing Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition in Malaysia, where it is being praised for its combat readiness and technical finesse.
China, which accounts for 81 per cent of Pakistan’s defence imports in recent years, remains a cornerstone of Islamabad’s military modernisation, supplying not only the J-10C but also the JF-17 Thunder and PL-15 missiles. As the J-10C roars across international skies- and headlines – it marks a bold new chapter in the strategic air alliance between Beijing and Islamabad.
