Summary
- Pakistan Air Force’s J-10C fighter jets reportedly engaged Indian aircraft during the May 2025 aerial confrontation without direct support from airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
- According to the report, Pakistani J-10C jets used their onboard KLJ-7A radars to detect and engage Indian aircraft.
- The report’s claims have drawn attention because AEW&C aircraft are normally used to provide wider-area surveillance and help fighter jets detect threats at longer ranges.
Pakistan Air Force’s J-10C fighter jets reportedly engaged Indian aircraft during the May 2025 aerial confrontation without direct support from airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
The claim was made in a report by Ukrainian defence publication Defense Express. The report cited Chinese state television and comments from Chinese radar specialist Ben De.
According to the report, Pakistani J-10C jets used their onboard KLJ-7A radars to detect and engage Indian aircraft. The jets were reportedly able to track targets from a distance of around 200 kilometres.
The report claimed that six Indian aircraft were shot down during the confrontation. It included three Rafale fighter jets among the aircraft allegedly destroyed.
The report said the Pakistani fighters did not require direct targeting assistance from AEW&C aircraft during the reported engagements. Instead, the J-10Cs reportedly used their own radar systems to identify and track targets.
The KLJ-7A is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar designed for modern air combat. It can detect and track multiple targets and provide information needed for air-to-air engagements.
The report’s claims have drawn attention because AEW&C aircraft are normally used to provide wider-area surveillance and help fighter jets detect threats at longer ranges.
The reported use of the J-10C’s onboard radar suggests that the aircraft could conduct long-range engagements with greater independence from airborne surveillance platforms.
The May 2025 confrontation involved intense aerial activity between Pakistan and India. Both sides made competing claims about losses and the effectiveness of their military operations.
The claim that six Indian aircraft were destroyed, including three Rafales, has not been independently verified. India has also disputed Pakistan’s claims about aircraft losses.
The reported account therefore remains a claim attributed to Chinese sources and the Ukrainian defence publication.
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