File photo 

By The South Asia Times

SEOUL - Chinese authorities have officially confirmed the combat success of J-10C fighters operated by the Pakistan Air Force, marking a milestone in Chinese fighter exports and highlighting Pakistan’s growing air combat capabilities.

According to a report by South Korea-based military watch, Chinese sources, including the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, stated on January 12 that Pakistan’s J-10C aircraft “shot down several enemy aircraft in real combat conditions while incurring no losses.”

The engagement reportedly took place in early May 2025, during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan.

The conflict erupted with India’s initiation of Operation Sindoor, a series of strikes against some targets including civilian buildings in Pakistan. Indian forces deployed a variety of fighter aircraft, including Rafales, Su-30MKIs, and Mirage 2000s.

Initial reports indicated that several fighter jets including four Rafale jets were shot down, alongside other Indian fighters, representing a major blow to New Delhi.

The losses were particularly damaging to India’s Defense Ministry, given that each Rafale cost over $241 million under a controversial $8.7 billion deal for 36 aircraft. Critics had long questioned the Rafale’s relatively small radar, lighter engines, and limited range compared with larger platforms such as the Su-30MKI or Russian J-16.

The J-10C, China’s first fully indigenous fighter exported outside of Pakistan JF-17, proved decisive in these engagements.

Despite its light weight, the aircraft’s cutting-edge avionics, PL-10 and PL-15 missiles, and advanced offboard sensor data links allowed Pakistani pilots to outmaneuver and shoot down multiple Indian fighters, without suffering any losses.

Observers note that technologies from China’s J-20 fifth-generation program, along with future sixth-generation fighter capabilities, give the J-10C a significant edge in modern air warfare.

The combat results have had far-reaching implications. For China, the success of the J-10C enhances the prestige of its fighter industry, fueling interest among foreign buyers despite Western political pressure.

For India, the setback prompted renewed interest in Russian platforms such as the Su-57 and further procurement of S-400 ground-based air defense systems.

Analysts suggest that the engagement may accelerate India’s efforts to strengthen its air capabilities while also reinforcing Pakistan’s confidence in its indigenous and Chinese-supplied fighter programs.

Military experts have hailed the outcome as a turning point, demonstrating that sophisticated, lightweight fighters like the J-10C, combined with advanced missile systems and networked sensors, can decisively challenge heavier and more expensive aircraft in real-world combat.