Pentagon Confirms China Supplied J-10C To Pakistan: How The Fighter Jets Are Changing South Asia’s Air Power Post Op Sindoor | World News

New Delhi: The United States Department of Defense officially confirmed that China has provided Pakistan with 36 Chengdu J-10C multirole fighter jets since 2020. The statement puts definitive figures on information that has long circulated as informed speculation in military and security circles in South Asia.

This statement was made by the Pentagon’s 2025 China Military Power Report, which was mandated by Congress in December 2025. This report comes at a time when regional air power equations are under scrutiny following the India-Pakistan air clashes of May 2025, codenamed Operation Sindoor.

The report states that as of May 2025, Beijing has delivered 20 J-10C aircraft to Islamabad within the scope of two separate orders placed since 2020. The remaining jets are planned to be completed and delivered in early 2026. This effectively completes Pakistan’s first full J-10C fleet and makes Islamabad the only export operator of this aircraft anywhere in the world.

By officially acknowledging these transfers, the Pentagon confirmed years of intelligence assessments and underlined how Beijing’s defense exports have become a strategic tool with direct geopolitical implications. In South Asia, where air combat revolves around long-range missiles, sensor fusion and rapid engagement timelines, the arrival of the PL-15 paired with the J-10C beyond visual range missile has changed operational calculations along the Line of Control (LoC).

The report places this development in the broader context of Operation Sindoor, in which Pakistan claimed J-10C fighter jets armed with PL-15 missiles attacked Indian Air Force Rafale jets from extreme ranges. Regardless of competing narratives, these allegations have thrust the Chinese platform into the international spotlight and prompted new evaluations among air forces from West Asia to Southeast Asia.

The Pentagon’s analysis also implicates the J-10C program in China’s rise as the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter. He says Beijing is increasingly offering planes that combine advanced avionics and long-range weapons at prices well below those of Western fighter jets, while avoiding the political conditions and export restrictions that often accompany U.S. and European systems.

China’s decision to supply the J-10C only to Pakistan demonstrates a deliberate approach in which Islamabad serves multiple roles simultaneously. Pakistan serves as a close strategic partner and operates Chinese combat aviation technology in a high-risk environment. It also acts as a real-world demonstration platform, demonstrating the capabilities of these aircraft under contested conditions.

Pairing the J-10C with the PL-15 missile extends Pakistan’s engagement range and shortens the reaction time of opposing forces. This change reduces traditional warning margins and increases the risk of escalation in a region already prone to rapid military decision-making under pressure.

From an industrial perspective, the Pentagon’s statement shows how China is moving beyond ad hoc arms sales and toward a more structured export model. This model relies on local supply chains, competitive pricing and platforms that have now come into real operational use rather than merely theoretical offerings.

Taken together, the confirmed deliveries, the aircraft’s reported use during Operation Sindoor, and the international attention it generated point to a moment when Chinese warplanes are perceived as more battlefield-relevant than promising.

Role of Pakistan as Primary Operator of J-10C

Pakistan’s emergence as the sole operator of the J-10C indicates a change in air force doctrine. For the first time, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has fielded a fourth-generation-plus fighter aircraft designed around long-range and network-centric combat rather than traditional close-range engagements.

Developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the J-10C is a single-engine delta-canard fighter aircraft equipped with Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, integrated electronic warfare systems and modern data links. The export version, called J-10CE, flown by Pakistan, uses the WS-10 Taihang turbofan engine, reducing dependence on Russian power plants and increasing overall fleet sustainability.

Pakistan’s decision to order aircraft in 2020 coincided with rising tensions with India following the Balakot crisis and India’s launch of the Rafale. The aim of the acquisition was to narrow qualitative gaps rather than compete on fleet size.

The first J-10C aircraft arrived in Pakistan in March 2022. Deliveries accelerated after 2023 and by mid-2025 the PAF had mobilized at least two frontline squadrons, positioning them in key sectors covering Punjab, Kashmir and approaches from the Arabian Sea.

The Pentagon’s report states that Pakistan has become the main buyer of Chinese warplanes and the only country operating the J-10C. This highlights Islamabad’s role as more than a customer. It highlights Pakistan’s position as an operational proving ground for China’s most advanced export-class fighter jet.

Cost also played a role in the platform’s appeal. The per-unit cost of the J-10C is estimated to be between $40-50 million, while India’s Rafale purchases are estimated to be worth around $120 million per aircraft when weapons, support and life cycle expenses are included.

Pakistan’s air leadership has described the J-10C as a strategic stabilizer that supports deterrence objectives focused on maintaining parity rather than superiority, while bridging legacy fleets and future targets. The program also strengthened broader China-Pakistan defense cooperation by completing joint work on the JF-17 Thunder, unmanned systems and joint training plans.

J-10C Fighter Aircraft Profile from Operational Perspective

In the export J-10CE configuration, the Chengdu J-10C is a single-seat, multirole fighter aircraft designed for air superiority and precision attack missions. It has a length of approximately 15.7 meters, a wingspan of nearly 9.75 meters and a height of 4.78 meters. The empty weight of the aircraft is approximately 9,750 kilograms and the maximum take-off weight is around 19,000 kilograms.

It is estimated that the fighter, using the WS-10 Taihang turbofan engine, will produce approximately 86 kilonewtons of thrust in dry mode and up to 113 kilonewtons with afterburner. It can reach speeds in excess of Mach 2, with a combat radius of approximately 1,150 kilometers and a ferry range of approximately 3,100 kilometers, depending on the mission profile.

The aircraft operates at altitudes above 18,000 meters and has a high climb rate estimated at approximately 254 meters per second. The avionics suite focuses on the KLJ-7A AESA radar, supported by an integrated digital data link and onboard electronic countermeasure systems.

The J-10C carries up to 11 rigging points and supports a payload of approximately 6,000 to 7,000 kilograms. Its air-to-air arsenal includes short-range infrared guided missiles such as the PL-10 and PL-15 active radar homing missile for engagements beyond visual range. The aircraft also supports precision-guided bombs, anti-ship weapons and laser-guided munitions, as well as a 23-millimeter internal cannon for close-range combat.

Defensive features include radar warning receivers, missile approach warning systems, and chaff and flare dispensers, all managed through a digital flight control system. The export configuration flown by Pakistan includes avionics and electronic warfare arrangements in line with customer agreements.

The Pentagon has confirmed that completing Pakistan’s J-10C fleet is more than a normal weapons delivery. It shows a new way to develop, sell and use air power in South Asia, with implications that extend far beyond the region.