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DECODING PAKISTAN'S CHINA-MADE J-10C FIGHTERS

YB WEB DESK. Dated: 1/21/2022 2:36:13 PM

New Delhi,Jan 20 Pakistan's interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed recently said the country is set to buy 25 J-10C fighter jets to counter India’s Rafale jets. Pakistan is set to buy China's J-10C fighter jets which are reportedly going to be showcased during Pakistan Day parade on March 23. France is set to complete its order of 36 Rafale jets to India by April this year. On the other hand, reports say the Chinese jets will arrive in Pakistan in March. NATO calls the J-10C "Firebrand" and is also known as "Vigorous Dragon" manufactured by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) for the Chinese Air Force. It can carry out air-to-air combat including strike missions. Pakistan had requested to buy the fighter jets as far back as 2006. The negotiations finally led to the purchase of 25 J-10C fighters. In fact, Pakistan has acquired a significant number of JF-17 aircraft, jointly developed with China, to replace the ageing Mirage aircraft. Pakistan currently operates about 100 JF-17s in four to six squadrons, according to SIPRI. The report says the Ra’ad ALCM (an Ukrainian Import) is intended to provide the PAF’s fighter-bombers with a standoff nuclear capability. It has been flight-tested seven times since 2007. The last reported flight test was in 2016. An improved version, the Ra’ad-II, was displayed for the first time in 2017 and is reported to have a range of 600 kilometres. With a service ceiling of 50,000 feet, the Rafale combat aircraft can reach maximum speeds of 750 knots. It can carry out both air-toground strikes, as well as air-to-air attacks and interceptions during the same sortie. The jet is capable of performing several actions at the same time, such as firing air-to-air missiles during a very low altitude penetration phase, giving it outstanding survivability. The mission system of the Rafale has the potential to integrate a variety of current and future armaments.