Pakistan Unveils JF-17C with China-Made Missiles
The upgraded JF-17C fighter jet, equipped with Chinese-made PL-10 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles, has the potential to shift the balance of power in the region, with Pakistan gaining a tactical advantage in aerial combat. The PL-15 missiles, with their advanced AESA radar and two-way datalink, enable precise targeting and mid-course corrections, making them a highly effective weapon.
Pakistan has released images of its upgraded JF-17C fighter jet, equipped with Chinese-made PL-10 and PL-15 air-to-air missiles, showcasing its capability to counter India amidst rising tensions over a deadly attack in Kashmir.
The JF-17C is a significant upgrade to Pakistan's military arsenal, providing beyond-visual-range capabilities and serving as a reminder of Pakistan's military readiness and capability to respond to any escalation. The release comes as India threatens to disrupt Pakistan's water supply and follows a 2019 aerial engagement where a Pakistani jet downed an Indian MiG-21.
The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has released pictures of its JF-17 Block III fighter aircraft armed with PL-15 Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Air-to-air missiles, which are said to have been drawn from China's internal stocks. The PL-15 has a claimed operational range of 200-300 km and can reach speeds of over Mach 5, making it a highly versatile weapon.
The delivery of the PL-15 missiles to Pakistan could provide the PAF with a tactical advantage in aerial combat, allowing its fighter jets to engage Indian aircraft at extreme distances. However, India has options to counter this threat, including the R-37M missiles developed by Russia and its own Astra series of BVR missiles, which have a range of 340 km and are being deployed on the IAF's Sukhoi Su-30MKI jets and the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas.
The threat of escalation looms large, and the IAF must strategize how to deal with the threat of PL-15 missiles in the current scenario with the available resources. The display of Pakistan's upgraded JF-17C fighter jet serves as a reminder of the country's military readiness and capability to respond to any escalation, with China's support playing a significant role in enhancing Pakistan's military capabilities.