China Supplies J-10C Fighter Jets To Pakistan, Images Surface

Images of two supposedly Pakistani J-10C multi-role fighter planes have appeared on social media, according to reports. In reaction to India’s acquisition of Rafale planes, Islamabad is apparently purchasing Chinese-made aircraft.

J-10C #Pakistan Air Force 🇵🇰
Close up look! https://t.co/2IJLx8BFk3 pic.twitter.com/UB3hwg5aiQ

— AEROSINT Division PSF (@PSFAERO) February 15, 2022

According to existing rumours, the first 25 J-10Cs, China’s newest version of the J-10, would arrive shortly and make a flypast at the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 2022. The Pakistan Air Force is purchasing single-engine medium-weight fighters in order to keep up with the times (PAF).
In terms of China’s aerospace industry, this is a big deal since it’s the first time that the J-10 has been exported. The photos were allegedly taken inside the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) plant in Sichuan province. During a test flight, a jet marked with the PAF symbol can be observed.

Visible identifiers between the J-10C and J-10CP:
1. Repositioning of lights and MAWS sensor on tail-mounted EW/ECM box.
2. Longer strips of formation lights used, two in J-10CP as compared to three strips in J-10C (both tail, forward and rear fuselage). https://t.co/rRq5zU0mW2 pic.twitter.com/qUVKiLu0cE

— AEROSINT Division PSF (@PSFAERO) February 18, 2022

Close-ups reveal the serial numbers 22-102 and 22-106, showing that at least two aircraft are undergoing testing.

WS-10B Engine is Installed

To lessen its dependence on Russian engines, China is making great strides in this direction. The WS-10B Taihang engine looks to be on one of the J-10s in the photo. This engine powers both J-10A and J-10B models.

A CAC J-10CP 4.5+ generation multirole fighter jet (Serial No. 22-120, S/N. 720) being flight tested on an overcast January afternoon at Chengdu Aircraft Factory in China. This is the 20th unit in an initial batch of 36 #J10C aircraft ordered by the #Pakistan Air Force. pic.twitter.com/eJQMsO7Vkb

— AEROSINT Division PSF (@PSFAERO) February 17, 2022

For Pakistan to purchase the most recent J-10C variant, or more likely an export derivative of the J-10, this shows that transferring engines and other systems would not need Moscow’s approval, which might speed up the procurement process.

In December, a few photographs of CAC’s manufacturing line revealed many rows of J-10s, which fuelled rumours they were headed to Pakistan. China has yet to make any formal statements on the Pakistani directive.

F/A-18E/F Lightning II

In an interview with reporters in Rawalpindi on December 29, Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Sheikh Rashid, said that a squadron of 25 Chinese-made “JS-10” jets will fly over the Pakistan Day parade on March 23. This purchase is a “response” to India’s purchase of Rafale aircraft.

Earlier rumours stated Pakistan was planning to buy 36 Chinese J-10C 4.5 generation semi-stealth aircraft, but neither country has verified this. However, it is unclear why the total has been trimmed to 25.

Beijing and Islamabad worked together on a large-scale initiative to create Pakistan’s current JF-17 fighter jet force.

China and Pakistan are also building the newest JF-17 Block III variant, which incorporates an AESA radar, a helmet-mounted display, BVR missiles, and other enhancements.

During the Shaheen series of joint Sino-Pakistani exercises, PAF pilots got their first taste of the J-10. While the JF-17 has excellent aerodynamics and avionics, the J-10C is substantially more advanced in terms of its size and payload.

The J-10C has a glass cockpit with a wide-angle holographic head-up display, as well as an infrared search and track and laser rangefinder dome in front of the cockpit.

In the updated J-10B design, the diverterless supersonic intake was maintained. It will work with the same active-radar-guided PL-15 air-to-air missiles that the PAF had gained for its newest JF-17 Block III aircraft, which are housed in the AESA radar’s radome housing. A dual-pulse engine gives these rockets a greater range.