An intense aerial dogfight between Chinese-built Pakistani jets (J-10C) and French-made Indian Rafale fighters is drawing the attention of military analysts worldwide, as it offers rare insights into modern air combat and cutting-edge weaponry.
According to defence analysts, a Chinese-made J-10 fighter jet operated by Pakistani pilots shot down five Indian military aircraft, including three Rafales, on Wednesday night. The clash marked a potential milestone for China’s J-10 program and may reshape perceptions of Beijing’s aerial capabilities.
The skirmish provides an uncommon live-combat scenario for evaluating pilot performance, fighter capabilities, and air-to-air missile systems—vital intelligence for nations preparing for future conflicts.
One U.S. official expressed high confidence that Pakistan employed Chinese J-10s to launch air-to-air missiles during the confrontation. While there has been no official confirmation of the specific weapons used, speculation on social media has centered on China’s PL-15 missile and the European-made Meteor missile, widely considered among the most advanced in their class.
“This kind of engagement is gold dust for air warfare communities across China, the U.S., and Europe,” said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). “They’ll be eager to analyse every available detail—tactics, technologies, and the effectiveness of various systems.”
Barrie emphasized that, if confirmed, the clash could pit China’s most advanced missile—the PL-15—against Europe’s best, the Meteor. “If these missiles were involved, it’s a significant data point for evaluating high-end air combat,” he said.
The French and U.S. defense communities are expected to seek similar intelligence through Indian sources to better understand how Rafales and Western missile systems performed.
A senior executive in the defense industry noted the growing concerns about the PL-15: “It’s a major threat that U.S. forces are monitoring very closely.”
Neither Rafale manufacturer Dassault Aviation nor the European missile developer MBDA, maker of the Meteor, offered immediate comments, with the latter unavailable due to a public holiday in France.
