Can Pakistan's J-10CE, with its Advanced Capabilities, Truly Counter India's Combat-Proven Rafale?

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) official Air Commodore Nouman Ali Khan, known for his role in the 2019 aerial engagement with India, recently stated that the Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jet is superior to the Indian Air Force's (IAF) Rafale.

His comments, made during an interview with HUM News, highlight the ongoing debate about the balance of air power in the region.

The discussion arose in the context of India's acquisition of 36 Rafale fighter jets from France. The deal, initiated in 2016 and completed in 2022, significantly enhanced the IAF's capabilities.

The Rafale is considered a 4.5-generation aircraft, boasting a twin-engine configuration, an advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, and the long-range Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM), which has a range exceeding 150 kilometers.

Its partial stealth characteristics further solidify its role as a critical component of India's air power projection, particularly in relation to Pakistan and China. The Rafale has seen combat action in several conflict zones including, Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria.

However, Air Commodore Khan downplayed the Rafale's impact, asserting that the PAF's J-10CE, a single-engine multirole fighter acquired from China, is the superior aircraft.

"The J-10CE is the best fighter jet in the region," he claimed, citing its superior agility, advanced avionics, and overall combat versatility. Pakistan inducted the J-10CE in 2022 as part of a deal for 25 aircraft, with an option for 11 more.

The J-10CE is also equipped with an AESA radar, and the PL-15 BVRAAM, which reportedly has a range between 200 and 300 kilometers. It is also powered by a thrust-vectoring WS-10B engine, providing enhanced maneuverability.

Khan, the PAF Pilot credited to shoot down IAF Mig-21 in 2019, piloting an F-16. His strong support for the J-10CE reflects Pakistan's increasing military reliance on China. This shift has become more pronounced since 2019, partly due to restrictions imposed by the United States on the use and maintenance of Pakistan's F-16 fleet.

While Khan did not provide a detailed technical breakdown, his assertion of superiority likely stems from the J-10CE's design, which features a delta wing and canards that contribute to its agility.

Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with advanced Chinese weaponry, including the PL-15 missile, which has a longer range than the Rafale's Meteor.

The J-10C is equipped with an AESA radar that experts say uses gallium nitride, granting it better range and resistance to jamming than older designs,

However, Indian and Western defence analysts point out that the Rafale benefits from its twin-engine design, which offers greater reliability. Furthermore, the Rafale has a proven combat record in various operations, including those in Libya and Syria. This operational experience is an advantage that the J-10CE, while highly capable, currently lacks.

The true measure of these aircraft's relative capabilities will likely be determined by their performance in future operational deployments and, ideally not, actual combat scenarios.

 

[sanket]

Tejas MK1A is enough for J-10 CE, with Astra MK2 & ASRAAM/PYTHON-5 as WVR.

 

[R. Singh]

Rafale is good for IAF if selected under MRFA but Dassault must give TOT for ORCA and TEDBF and agree to arm Meteor on our Tejas-1A and Tejas-AF-II and Su-30MKI !

 

[Baiju Bhaskaran]

If MiG-21 is available, and with a capable pilot, it can also shoot down J-10 very easily, like F-16.

 

[Puneet]

This Nauman pilot has been roped in by Pakistanis for their propaganda. They want to fool their people to justify their budget allocation which their country can't afford

 

[ACHARYA ASHIS]

If J10C is that formidable, why china raised serious concern when India bought Rafales?

 

[Marc Spector]

When this Pakistani pilot in his J10C is frantically searching the skies for a Sukhoi or Rafale, the ASTRA MK II BVR missile launched from a cute-looking Tejas will tear his jet apart in two.

Fun Fact: Due to the Tejas's small radar signature and capable electronic warfare systems, he won't even realize who fired the missile or from where it came!

The J10C will burn down, the parachute will fly down, the China-Pak pride will sink in shame, and the typical Pakistani propaganda will rise like a nuclear cloud to hide this shameful defeat in the heights of the blue sky.

 

[P2S2]

This Nauman pilot has been roped in by Pakistanis for their propaganda. They want to fool their people to justify their budget allocation which their country can't afford

There's been an outflow of ex F16 pilots training Chinese pilots which has provided jobs for others to step in and train them. F16 remains the benchmark. It could have been surpassed by others. Even the Chinese wouldn't pass on those secrets to him let alone the west. The best he can probably gleam is from Turkiye pilots. Both Turkiye and China will have one eye on marketing their planes through known able pilots. His success was due to American technology not Chinese. A lot depends upon the quality of training of the pilots, China is heavily into it by roping in seasoned pilots. Where they will be used is anyone's guess. Probably in unstable jurisdictions first.

 

[SANDY SANDY]

What can one expect from the organization which claims to have shot down a Su-30 from No 25 Squadron, a unit which is actually a transport squadron flying An 32s in Gujarat. Such credibility!!

 

[P2S2]

Mistakes by surveillance are common, names camouflaged.

 

[Vineet Sharma]

Yes... JF-17 is the best aircraft in the region, and the Pak army has told the Pak prime minister that this plane will soon leave 3-4 satellites in the external orbit of the moon to show the real capabilities which none of the aircraft possess in the world. And for that, we have to simply make a few modifications, like we have to take one pic from the internet, do some deletions and paste our JF-17, do some beautification... that's it.

They are experts in that. Have to seen the photo of our F-16 on the night of the Indian airstrike? That was also edited in the same manner.

 

[P2S2]

Yes... JF-17 is the best aircraft in the region, and the Pak army has told the Pak prime minister that this plane will soon leave 3-4 satellites in the external orbit of the moon to show the real capabilities which none of the aircraft possess in the world. And for that, we have to simply make a few modifications, like we have to take one pic from the internet, do some deletions and paste our JF-17, do some beautification... that's it.

They are experts in that. Have to seen the photo of our F-16 on the night of the Indian airstrike? That was also edited in the same manner.

Misguided crooks end up exhausting remaining patience of ordinary mums and dads who are desperately trying to keep their families alive. The few capable ones get sucked into doctoring facts which could sooner rather than later bring the house down. Those who will get hurt would be ordinary folks. The crooks are few but good people are many. Foreign countries or companies that assist crooks could be identified and marked. BYD is trying to gain army land to reassemble vehicles in Myanmar. It could end up becoming a world criminal by association. So too hitherto safe heavens could refuse to allow crooks to disembark in their jurisdictions.