The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on Friday formally inducted modern J-10C fighter aircraft – a multi-role combat aircraft also known as Vigorous Dragon – into its fleet during a ceremony at the Kamra Air Base.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmad Babar, Chief of Naval Staff Amjad Khan Niazi, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Faiz Hameed as well as senior federal ministers attended the ceremony.
According to the state-run wire service, the J-10C is comparatively larger and can be equipped with a bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3. The aircraft can carry more advanced, fourth-generation air-to-air missiles, including the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15.
The military had in January confirmed the long-speculated deal with China for the supply of J-10C jets. It had said that the acquisition was being done in view of the regional security matrix that required Pakistan’s armed forces to continuously upgrade their capacity. Many also believe that the J-10C deal is Pakistan’s answer to Rafales bought by India from France.
