Pakistan’s deployment of Chinese jets, missiles marks "turning point" in Kashmir conflict

Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's shares rose 17% on the Shenzhen exchange following reports that its J-10C fighter jets, used by Pakistan, downed Indian aircraft in recent Kashmir clashes.

Pakistan’s foreign minister alleged that the J-10C jets, which form part of the Pakistani Air Force, were responsible for bringing down five Indian jets, including three Rafales made in France, after India launched Operation Sindoor, Caliber.Az reports, per Arab media.

While India has refuted the claim, US officials confirmed to Reuters that at least two Indian jets were downed, including a Rafale, lending partial credence to the Pakistani account.

China plays a vital role in Pakistan’s military capabilities, supplying 82% of the country's arms imports and accounting for 60% of China’s arms exports between 2022 and 2024. In addition to military hardware, Chengdu Aircraft Corporation has teamed up with Pakistan on several joint ventures, including the co-development of the JF-17 Thunder, a lightweight multirole fighter that has been a core component of the Pakistani Air Force since its introduction in 2007.

Despite having a fleet of just 20 J-10Cs, Pakistan’s Air Force operates 156 JF-17 aircraft. Alongside fighter jets, China also supplies Pakistan with advanced air munitions, including the PL-15 air-to-air missile, which was reportedly used by the J-10Cs against Indian targets.

Military aerospace expert Douglas Barrie from the International Institute for Strategic Studies commented that the PL-15 missile reflects significant advancements in China’s air-to-air weapons sector, noting that its performance presents a growing threat to the US and its allies.

This marks the first known instance of the J-10C and the PL-15 missile being deployed in direct state-on-state aerial combat, with the reported success likely contributing to Chengdu Aircraft Corporation's stock rally. The incident has also given real-world validation to China’s defence capabilities.

Hu Xijin, the former editor of Global Times, shared on the Chinese social media platform WeChat that the reported success of Pakistan’s use of Chinese military hardware shows that China's defence industry has "completely surpassed" Russia and France, two of the leading global arms suppliers and key providers to India’s military.

China has been actively modernising its military, with a particular focus on bolstering its position in the Indo-Pacific. The nation has rapidly expanded its naval forces, introducing three aircraft carriers, and is developing a fifth-generation stealth fighter, the J-20, designed to compete with the US’s F-22 and F-35.

Tensions between India and Pakistan, which were triggered by an Indian military strike on Pakistan in response to a militant attack in Kashmir, have further escalated, raising concerns about the potential for continued conflict in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev