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The Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon is a single-engine lightweight multiroleaircraft operated by People’s Liberation Army Airforce. Huge numbers over450 plus airframes are in operational service. J-10 took its first flighton 23rd March 1998 and entered operational services in 2006. There arethree main variants of J-10 namely the J-10A, J-10B and newest J-10C.
The airframe is tailless delta wing with canards. The airframe isconstructed with metal alloys and composite material. J-10A is powered byRussian AL-31FN engine. Later the J-10B and C have been spotted withChinese WS-10B engines. Much of the avionics and electronic suite ofChinese made aircraft are kept away from the public domain. The cockpit isfull glass comprising three main multifunction displays and HUD. J-10Aincorporates an antenna array radar while J-10B and C are said to have AESAradars. J-10 is quite a manoeuvrable jet, a thrust vectoring engine J-10Bwas displayed at Zhuhai Airshow 2018, that was seen with enhancedmanoeuvring characteristics and it even managed to pull notorious PugachevCobra manoeuvre.J-10 incorporates the large variety of Armaments, in Air to Air Combat itcan employ PL-5 PL-8 and PL-10 for within visual range engagements, forbeyond visual range it employs PL-12 and PL-15 Active Radar HomingMissiles. J-10 also employs a huge variety of Guided and Un-Guided Air toSurface armaments. The payload capacity of over 18,000lbs can be used tocarry unguided bombs, Laser and GPS guided bombs, Air to Surface Missiles,Anti Ship Missiles and Drop Fuel tanks.General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most famous fightersand most produced fighter aircraft in the world. F-16s are in operationalservice since 1980. Pakistan received its first F-16A/B Block 15s in 1983.F-16 kept evolving and improving with its Block building approach, startingfrom F-16 Block 5to current operational F-16 Block 60, F-16s have kept improving. F-16 Block70 is an upcoming variant with AESA radar and major boost to itscapabilities over the previous blocks.In 2006 Pakistan Showed Interest in J-10s, and in 2009 Pakistan had signeda deal worth $1.4 Billion for 36 Pakistan specific variants of J-10B.However, the jets were never delivered and there is no further news onthat. It was believed Pakistan wished to invest those resources in thedevelopment of JF-17 program. In June 2006 Pakistan had requested FalconStar and Enhanced Mid Life Upgrade Worth $1.3 Billion for their F-16A/BBlock 15s. In June 2010 Pakistan received its first two F-16D Block 52Msand by February 2012 PAF had received their 18 F-16C/D Block 52Ms out of 18under Peace Drive, US had agreed to release 15 F-16 Airframes embargoesearlier, those 15 Airframes were also EMLUed and last EDA EMLU wasdelivered in 2016. In 2014 Pakistan received 13 F-16A/B Block 15 ADFs fromJordan that were originally owned by the US. From 2006 to 2016 Pakistanreceived over 46 F-16 Airframes and there were more on order butunfortunately, that couldn’t materialise. It’s virtually impossible for acountry like Pakistan to politically handle both deals, Pakistan had triedand tested the F-16s and they could easily rely on it so F-16 was givenpriority.Still, many people are keen to believe still there is hope US would approveF-16 Block 70s and Upgrade Kits for Pakistan Airforce. This argumentlargely relies on the United State’s need for Pakistan for compliance ofAfghan peace deal.China is a long term and all-season strategic partner of Pakistan so J-10sare never off cards, but it won’t be wrong saying Pakistan still wantsF-16s. Getting more F-16s is always a welcome move, as Pakistan alreadyoperates a large number of F-16s, Pakistan has all the supportinfrastructure and trained personnel to operate F-16s and moreover, PAF has37 years of experience on F-16, where PAF F-16s undertook extensiveoperations ranging from Combat Air Patrols on Pak-Afghan border duringSoviet invasion to Precision Strikes against militant targets during thewar on terror. Pakistani F-16s have tasted blood as they were the second toscore air to air kill after Israeli F-16s, there are many on and off recordkills of PAF F-16s during the soviet afghan war. With the start ofPakistan’s anti-insurgency campaign PAF took an active part in the war.Recently on 27 February, 2019 Pakistani F-16s shot down Indian Airforce’sMig-21 Bison and Su-30MKI with Aim-120C-5 BVR Missile. All this experienceand PAF’s trust on F-16 makes it the most suitable option, with theinduction of F-16 Block 70 into PAF it will bring huge improvements toPAF’s capabilities in the least possible time and less costly.It is argued that PAF cannot employ F-16s at their full potential. F-16upgrade and new F-16 airframes were given to PAF aimed war on terror andmeant for precision strikes. The points to be considered here are early PAFF-16s were also capable of precision strikes and guided ammunition was alsothere with PAF not only on F-16s. F-16s had Pods and Guided Bombs longbefore EMLU. In peace drive, 500 Aim-120C-5 and 200 Aim-9M-9 Air to AirMissiles were given to PAF, and a contract was signed for upgrades ofexisting PAF Aim-9 arsenal. Did the insurgents employ aircraft that PAFneeded to counter with AMRAAMs “ No “, AMRAAMs were given to PAF fordefending their eastern border. On multiple occasions during standoffsagainst India PAF employed F-16s very well and in absolute accordance withPAF’s plans. Even PAF F-16s shot down multiple IAF assets and there waslittle to no criticism on PAF for employing F-16s against India. Rather a$125 million support package was released for PAF F-16 fleet. Recently USDepartment of Defence approved the sale of LANTIRN pods to PAF. Such movestend to show US has little to no concerns on how Pakistan employs theirF-16s unless they violate some terms which are least likely.But what if “ NO F-16s FOR PAF “ then obviously the J-10 is always oncards, J-10 is a highly capable platform as evaluated by PAF with intent toinduct and also in operational exercises PAF has been observing J-10s verykeenly. J-10 offers PAF flexibility in terms of tactical and strategicemployment and also free hands in terms of employment of weapon systemsthat may be local Pakistani or imported. China trusts Pakistan so J-10’sFCS will be fully accessible for Pakistan that really matters inoperational efficiency. PAC Kamra has huge support infrastructure for PAFfleet, PAC Kamra can easily be utilised to support the J-10 fleet.People are divided on the opinion whether PAF should opt for more F-16 orJ-10s should be procured, Both sides have valid arguments. However, thedecision lies with the utmost professional people the Pakistan Airforceitself. Everyone trusts PAF with their decision making as they have openlyproved they are the best with it.
