Pakistan

J-10 fighter jets: Pakistan may be China’s first customer

Pakistan may overtake Tehran in becoming the first overseas buyer of the multi-role aircraft

Newsdesk August 19, 2015

PHOTO: ASIAN DEFENCE

A military expert revealed on Tuesday that Pakistan may be the first buyer of China’s J-10 fighter jet which was initially set to be sold to Iran after the lifting of UN sanctions.

Fu Qianshao, an aviation equipment expert with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, said that Pakistan may overtake Tehran in becoming the first overseas buyer of the multi-role aircraft, which Chinese experts claim is comparable to the latest version of the US’ F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Citing Japanese website The Diplomat, the report said Pakistan had signed a deal for the purchase of 36 J-10 jets in 2009.

The report further stated that Pakistan, which jointly produces the J-17 Thunder fighter aircraft, had been showing interest to acquire the J-10 jets, while adding that China was wooing Iran to buy 150 J-10s.

“Once the sanctions against Iran are completely lifted, the country will definitely renovate its civilian and military aircraft fleets. The J-10 is a good option for the Iranians because it can fulfill all operations they want to conduct,” said Wang Yanan, Deputy Editor-in-chief of Aerospace Knowledge Magazine.

Fu added, ”The J-10 is able to confront any of the third-generation fighter jets operated by neighbouring countries because it features supreme maneuverability, strong firepower and cutting-edge avionic equipment.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2015.

COMMENTS (8)

babar afzal | 8 years ago | Reply pakitan need s.400 .su35 j10b and more f.16

Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply @Last Word: The JF-17 is a stop gap plane to replace obsolete 3rd generation aircraft. The most important aspect of the JF-17 is its technology transfer to Pakistan and export potential to developing countries with low military budgets. Where did you get your education from after making comments like that, which are nothing but totally wild guess work.

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Ahmed | 8 years ago | Reply @Last Word: You must be high on drugs if you think the SU-30MKI or any russian or indian plane is more superiror to the eurofighter. The eurofighter is currently only second to the f-22. Air exercises do not usually use all the plane's systems due to confidentiality of sensitive technology. Wake up.

Last Word | 8 years ago | Reply @sharabi: Fully agree with your views, however one can call JF-17 as pure junk but not J-10 which matches F-16 though with lower maneuverability. China, despite being an all weather friend has always off loaded its obsolete equipment in Pakistan whether it is railways, electricity generation or air-crafts. Nevertheless, one fails to understand Pakistan's strategy as well to match Indian Air-force purchasing much inferior jets which will be sitting ducks. Pakistan can easily avoid this infructuous purchases which can be usefully spent on electricity generation and open more industrial houses maintaining cordial relations with India.

sharabi | 8 years ago | Reply @Weho: Read Tech specifications of SU30 MKI the twin Engine Heavyweight vs this chinese junk. China still uses Russian SU27 & ready for placing order for for new russian planes, If JF10 is so good why china is importing from Russia? & Did you know Engines & other critical parts of JF17 & JF10 are russian?

Last Word | 8 years ago | Reply J-10 is a good fourth generation fighter jet which has matching features as of F-16. However, India's Sukhoi-30MK1 is far superior to J-10 in specifications. The Indian jet has twin engines compared to J-10 one, has double thrust, double capacity to carry armaments, higher range and higher maneuverability which makes it far superior to J-10. India and UK carried out joint air exercises this month in which Indian Sukhoi-30's scored 12-0 victory over superior Euro-fighter Typhoons.

Weho | 8 years ago | Reply We need at least 50 of J10s and another 50-100 of J31 to ensure our air superiority over India. Considering that both Iran and Afghanistan are India's allies, we can not be passive on our western border as well. We have tried peace for 70 years, and let's try offense for change.

Ahmad | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan has moved on from J-10, and has no need for it with the influx of the recent F-16s from Jordan. Besides, Pakistan has made it clear they want the 5th generation J-31, which China is anxious to sell to Pakistan.

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