Islamabad / Beijing / New Delhi, July 2025 — For the first time in history, China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) are reportedly gearing up to launch a large-scale bilateral aerial exercise near the India–Pakistan border. This marks a significant escalation in Sino‑Pak military collaboration, both in scope and strategic positioning.
In past drills like the Shaheen series and the Indus Shield-Chinese module, exercises were either hosted alternately inside China and Pakistan or held at Pakistan’s interior air bases . However, reports now indicate a forthcoming London‑style strategic air maneuver located directly in proximity to Indian airspace—a first of its kind for the two nations.
The forthcoming exercise is expected to feature cutting-edge Chinese systems—PLAAF’s AESA‑radar equipped J‑16 and J‑10C fighters, HQ‑22 surface‑to‑air defence systems, YTG‑9 electronic warfare platforms, and the KJ‑500 airborne early warning aircraft. The PAF is likely to deploy its J‑10CEs and advanced JF‑17 Block‑III jets to simulate contemporary aerial combat scenarios .
These exercises build on prior exhibitions of interoperability such as Indus Shield‑Chinese, which concluded in November 2024 and validated both forces’ readiness to conduct complex, joint modern warfare operations . The new drill, however, reportedly expands that framework by incorporating real‑world geography near the sensitive India‑Pakistan front—a highly strategic move.
As China increasingly arms Pakistan—from J‑10CE fighter jets to HQ‑9 air defence systems and UCAVs—the exercise is seen as part of a deepening military alliance aimed at altering regional balance of power . India’s own recent Operation Sindoor and the resulting aerial skirmishes—where Pakistani J‑10Cs reportedly shot down Indian Rafale jets—underscore the centrality of Chinese‑supplied arms and raise the stakes of such exercises .
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China’s Foreign Ministry has previously emphasized that its joint air exercises with Pakistan—including the Shaheen drills—are routine military cooperation and are not directed at any third party . Nonetheless, India views the proximity of this new drill to its borders with increased concern.
India’s analysts warn that if tied to live‑combat capable Chinese systems used by Pakistan in recent skirmishes, the exercise could offset regional deterrence dynamics