Beijing's equipment gains battlefield recognition as Pakistan air force shoots down rival at 100km

by Thomas Harding, security and policy editor covering Westminster politics and European affairs

https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/asia/2025/05/09/india-pakistan...

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At least one of the French-supplied advanced Rafale fighters was destroyed by a hypersonic PL-15 missile fired by the Pakistan Air Force from a distance of more than 100km on Wednesday, it has been reported.

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Another key point, also witnessed in the Russian-Ukraine war, is that electronic warfare is becoming vital to battlefield survival, with the Indian aircraft not apparently equipped with a key radar jammer unlike British and US jets.

China has invested heavily in what experts called “a gold standard” Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar capability, which allows it to miniaturise the system and put it inside a 200kg missile. By comparison Raytheon's Phantomstrike missile is miniaturised at 60kg.

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“We've now seen Chinese weapons in action and the big question mark over the Chinese military build-up has been is their stuff actually any good?” said Tim Ripley, editor of the Defence Eye website. “This suggests that it is.”

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Once fired the PL-15E is blasted by a rocket booster to hypersonic speed of Mach 5 (6,200kph) then guided onto target by the J-10C fighter’s radar before, in the closing stages, switching to its own Aesa radar.

It can then hone in with accuracy with a second burst of speed being injected about 10km from target making it extremely difficult to evade.


Radar jammers
However, if the Rafales had been fitted with Aesa, then this would likely have picked up the threat from some distance.

An Aesa radar would have potentially allowed the Rafale to jam the Pakistan fighter and the missile in its closing stages as it allows the jet to create of beam of focused electronic noise.

“It makes it really quick to neutralise a threat from one of these missiles,” said Mr Ripley.

However, even if equipped with Aesa it is questionable whether the Rafale could have dodged the missile, said a leading defence company aviation expert.

While the radar “would help” its defences, missiles such as the PL-15E are so potent that “once you've been locked on by one it's very difficult to get away from the kill zone because those missiles are so quick,” he added.

Furthermore, if the missile detects jamming then it has the ability to quickly jump to another frequency.


French blushes
What is certain is that the Rafale wreckage, found near the Indian city of Bathinda, will be “pored over by the French because they really will want to know what happened,” said Paul Beaver, a military aviation expert.

Further humiliation for the Indians, as well as the French, was that its air force operates a wing of 36 Rafale F3Rs, the warplane’s most advanced version.

The aviation company source called it a “big, big blow to the French” because Rafale had been “touted as a cheap alternative” to the RAF Typhoon and American fighters.

“While pilot training could be part of the problem if you don't have the best equipment, then you are at a disadvantage,” he added.

There is a suggestion that the shoot-downs could be attributed to pilot error although it also proves Pakistan’s aerial combat skills.

“This demonstrates that the Pakistan Air Force is as effective as everyone always thinks it is. It's smaller than India’s but makes up for it in training and motivation,” Mr Beaver said.

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Distant dogfights
The aerial battle also marks the start of a new era of aerial warfare in which the incident showed the “very interesting development in long range missile snipers,” said Mr Ripley.

“Long range air-to-air combat is now a big trend in aerial warfare,” he added. “On the back of this lots of the air forces will be busy trying to revamp their electronic warfare effectiveness trying to neutralise these missiles. It’s a big growth area.”

Are Pakistan Navy assets networked with Pakistan Air Force?

Search Labs | AI Overview
Yes, Pakistan Navy assets are networked with the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) as part of their efforts to achieve inter-services integration and enhance interoperability.
Evidence of Networking:
Joint Exercises: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Pakistan Navy (PN) conduct joint exercises like "Sea Spark" and "RIBAT-2018" to validate war fighting concepts and enhance interoperability between naval and air assets.
Networking of Key Assets: There is evidence that Pakistan has an objective of integrating key assets such as AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft and surface warships through networking.
Data Link System: Pakistan has developed a homegrown data link system known as "Link-17" to facilitate data-link connectivity between the Army, Navy, and Air Force. This suggests an effort towards achieving tactical operational benefits through integrated communication.
Air Support and Interoperability: The Pakistan Air Force provides essential air support to the Pakistan Navy to cover aerial threats, especially for the PN which lacks a credible medium-to-long-range anti-air warfare capability from its surface fleet. Joint exercises like RIBAT-2018 contribute to improving interoperability between the two services.
JF-17 Integration: The PAF's JF-17 fighter aircraft have been tested and equipped to deploy anti-ship missiles like the C-802AK. This further indicates integration and coordination between the two services.
In summary, the Pakistan Armed Forces, including the Navy and Air Force, have taken steps towards greater integration and networking of their assets, conducting joint exercises and developing data link systems to enhance interoperability and operational effectiveness.

Pakistan Signs $4.6 Billion JF-17 Fighter Jet Deal with Azerbaijan

https://www.overtdefense.com/2025/06/18/pakistan-signs-4-6-billion-...

Pakistan has signed a $4.6 billion defense agreement with Azerbaijan to supply 40 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets, along with a $2 billion accompanying investment package. The government called this a record-breaking deal, which is by far the largest defense export in Pakistan’s history. Azerbaijan had originally ordered 16 JF-17s from Pakistan, but the new contract expands that purchase to 40 aircraft. The extra $2 billion investment portion of the deal is intended to cover joint industrial and infrastructure projects between the two countries.

The JF-17 Thunder itself is a lightweight, fourth-generation multirole combat aircraft co-developed by Pakistan and China. It was created as a modern, cost-effective fighter to replace older jets in Pakistan’s fleet (like the Mirage III and Chinese F-7). Powered by a single Russian-designed Klimov RD-93 turbofan engine, the JF-17 can reach speeds of about Mach 1.6 (roughly 1,900 km/h). It has excellent climb performance and can operate above 55,000 ft altitude. In combat loadout, it carries one twin-barrel 23 mm GSh-23 cannon and can mount roughly 3,400 kg of ordnance on eight external hardpoints, making it versatile for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Azerbaijan will get the latest Block III variant of the Thunder that has a modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a fully digital avionics suite. It is compatible with advanced Chinese missiles. For air combat, it can employ long-range PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and short-range infrared PL-10 missiles. The upgraded jet also includes a glass cockpit with a helmet-mounted targeting display to improve pilot situational awareness. Its weapons can include radar-guided BVR missiles, heat-seeking missiles, laser-guided bombs, anti-radiation missiles (to suppress enemy air defenses), and even anti-ship and cruise missiles for maritime or strategic strikes. Pakistan will further equip the new jets with ASELPOD electro-optical targeting pods (an advanced precision targeting system) before delivery.

The JF-17 deal is part of Azerbaijan’s broader effort to modernize its air force after recent conflicts. Deliveries of the 40 jets are expected to take place in phases over the coming years, including training programs for Azerbaijani pilots and technicians. Overall, the $4.6 billion fighter-jet sale (plus a $2 billion investment package) significantly deepens the Pakistan–Azerbaijan military relationship. The JF-17 Thunder’s delivery will modernize the Azerbaijani air force while marking a new era of defense cooperation for both countries.