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As the Indian Air Force (IAF) advances its proposal to acquire 114 Rafale fighter jets to be manufactured domestically, Pakistan is reportedly accelerating a dual-pronged strategy to maintain regional airpower parity.
In a direct response to India’s formidable buildup, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) is preparing to significantly expand its fleet of Chinese-made J-10CE fighters while fast-tracking the induction of J-35 stealth aircraft.
India’s Strategic Push for 114 Rafales
The Indian Air Force has moved closer to securing a historic deal for 114 Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA).Reports indicate that the IAF has formally approached the Ministry of Defence with a proposal to manufacture these French-origin jets in India.
This acquisition is critical for the IAF, which seeks to arrest a decline in its fighter squadron strength caused by the phasing out of Soviet-era MiG-21s.
The deal, which emphasizes the 'Make in India' initiative, aims to establish a robust domestic manufacturing line, ensuring long-term logistical support and technology transfer.
Pakistan’s Immediate Counter: Expanding the J-10CE Fleet
Faced with the prospect of a larger, more advanced Indian Rafale fleet, the PAF is pivoting back to its primary supplier, China.Sources suggest that Pakistan is abandoning hopes of a purely diversified fleet in favour of mass and immediate availability. The PAF is reportedly finalising plans to order an additional 60 to 70 J-10CE multirole fighters.
The J-10CE, often dubbed the "Vigorous Dragon," was originally inducted to counter the IAF’s initial batch of 36 Rafales. It features Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and long-range air-to-air missiles (such as the PL-15), offering credible beyond-visual-range capabilities.
Pakistani defence analysts note that a larger J-10CE fleet is essential to replace ageing squadrons of Mirage-III and F-7 aircraft on a one-to-one basis, preventing a numerical collapse in frontline strength.
The Stealth Ambition: J-35 Fast-Tracked
Beyond immediate numbers, Pakistan is aggressively pursuing fifth-generation technology to counter India’s future Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme.Reports indicate the PAF is negotiating the acquisition of approximately 40 J-35 stealth fighters—the land-based variant of China’s carrier-borne J-35.
While the aircraft is still undergoing testing, open-source intelligence suggests that Pakistani pilots may already be training on the platform in China.
If inducted, the J-35 would be Pakistan’s first stealth aircraft, providing low-observable capabilities designed to penetrate sophisticated air defence networks.
This move signals a desire to introduce a "technological surprise" in the region, much like the introduction of the F-16s in the 1980s.
US Support Keeps the F-16 Relevant
Despite its heavy tilt towards Beijing, Pakistan continues to rely on its American-made F-16 fleet, which remains a potent component of its air defence.To keep these aircraft flying, the United States recently approved a $686 million sustainment package. This deal focuses strictly on maintenance, hardware upgrades, and interoperability updates (such as Link-16 data links) to ensure the fleet remains operational until 2040.
However, analysts point out that this package does not include new weapons or offensive capabilities, signalling Washington’s reluctance to alter the regional military balance.
Consequently, the PAF views the F-16 as a legacy platform for air defence, while looking to China for offensive high-tech solutions.
Future Horizons: Project AZM and Turkish Collaboration
To reduce total dependence on foreign off-the-shelf purchases, the PAF continues to work on 'Project AZM', a long-term vision for an indigenous advanced fighter.However, acknowledging the technological hurdles, Pakistan has increasingly looked towards Türkiye. Recent reports confirm that Pakistan is seeking to join Türkiye’s 'KAAN' fifth-generation fighter programme, potentially as a partner for joint production.
This move is seen as a diversification strategy to ensure access to future technologies if Chinese supply lines face constraints.
Conclusion
The subcontinent is entering a new, capital-intensive phase of airpower competition.While India consolidates its strength through Western technology and domestic manufacturing, Pakistan is doubling down on its "Iron Brother" alliance with China.
The combined induction of massed J-10CEs and elite J-35 stealth fighters illustrates that Islamabad is willing to stretch its limited economic resources to ensure its air defence credibility remains intact against a rising Indian Air Force.
