China's Engineers Aid Pakistan in Alleged Downfall of Indian Rafale Jet Chinese engineers worked alongside Pakistani military personnel during the May 2024 conflict with India, according to state media reports. The collaboration, confirmed for the first time publicly, involved technical support for Pakistan’s J-10CE fighter jets, which Pakistan claims shot down an Indian Rafale aircraft. The incident, if verified, would mark the first recorded combat loss of a Rafale, a highly advanced French-built jet. India has acknowledged losses but not confirmed specific damages. The Chinese team, stationed at a support base in Pakistan, provided on-site assistance to ensure the J-10CEs operated at peak efficiency. Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, described the environment as extremely challenging, with temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius and constant air raid sirens. He emphasized the team’s goal of ensuring the aircraft “truly perform at its full combat potential.” Zhang highlighted the significance of the mission, stating it was “not just a recognition of the J-10CE” but also a testament to the “deep bond” formed through collaboration with Pakistani personnel. Another engineer, Xu Da, likened the fighter jets to “children” nurtured over years before being handed to Pakistan. He noted the J-10CE’s combat success was “inevitable,” as the aircraft was “ready for the right opportunity.” Pakistan’s reliance on Chinese military technology extends beyond the J-10CE. The country’s air force operates 36 J-10CE fighters, an export version of China’s J-10C, equipped with advanced AESA radar and long-range PL-15 missiles. These jets, along with the jointly developed JF-17, form the backbone of Pakistan’s air defense.#pakistan #china #j10ce #chengdu_aircraft_design_and_research_institute #stockholm_international_peace_research_institute
China Admits Providing On-Ground Technical Support to Pakistan During Operation Sindoor China has confirmed for the first time that it provided on-site technical support to Pakistan during last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, known as Operation Sindoor in New Delhi. The admission, reported by the South China Morning Post, marks a significant shift in Beijing’s public stance on its military collaboration with Islamabad. According to the report, engineers from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) directly supported Pakistani operations during the conflict, which targeted terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following a deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir. The operation, launched by India in response to the April 22, 2024, attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam that killed 26 people, involved strikes on nine terror-related sites. The Indian military claimed the strikes resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen. China’s involvement, however, was revealed through an interview aired by its state broadcaster CCTV, where AVIC engineers described their role in the conflict. Zhang Heng, an engineer from AVIC’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, detailed the challenges of providing on-ground support. He described the harsh conditions, including temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius, and the constant noise of fighter jets and air-raid sirens. Zhang emphasized the team’s motivation to ensure the performance of Chinese-made J-10CE jets, which Pakistan’s air force operates. The J-10CE, an export variant of the J-10C fighter, is considered the most advanced model in the J-10 series.#pakistan #china #operation_sindoor #aviation_industry_corporation_of_china #j10ce
