China-Pakistan joint air exercise strengthens pragmatic cooperation,
says expert
The recent joint air force exercise conducted by China and Pakistan in Northwest China has been hailed as mutually beneficial in terms of enhancing skills, tactics, and interoperability, according to Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert.
Despite employing different training methods, both nations operated the same aircraft, the J-10C, allowing for valuable mutual learning opportunities, Fu noted in an interview with the Global Times.
Following the successful completion of the Shaheen-X joint air exercise in Northwest China and the return of Pakistani forces to their home country, experts foresee increased military interactions and exchanges between the "Iron Brothers," further deepening their pragmatic cooperation. Pakistani Air Force J-10C and JF-17 fighter aircraft recently landed at an operational air base in Pakistan after their participation in the joint air exercise in China.
The primary objective of the exercise was to validate the interoperability between China and Pakistan in realistic contemporary air combat scenarios. It marked a collaborative effort that facilitated the exchange of valuable insights and lessons learned. A video accompanying the press release emphasized that Shaheen-X was an operational exercise that not only deepened brotherhood but also created synergy, enhanced professional skills and operational readiness, and shared cultural values.
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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force deployed various warplanes, including the J-16 fighter jet, to participate in the joint exercise, as shown in the video. The drill, which was the 10th edition in the Shaheen exercise series, commenced on August 28 in Jiuquan, Northwest China’s Gansu Province, and Yinchuan, Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. In addition to fighter aircraft, the
exercise involved other types of aircraft, such as early warning planes, as well as ground equipment, including ground-to-air missile systems, radar installations, and communication units. These elements simulated typical combat scenarios like joint air defense and joint countermeasures.
The exercise featured advanced warplanes from both sides and formed complete combat systems that prioritized interoperability, according to an anonymous Chinese military expert cited by the Global Times. The J-16, representing China, is the PLA Air Force’s most powerful and versatile fighter jet, second only to the stealth-capable J-20. On the Pakistani side, the J-10C is the most advanced aircraft in the Pakistan Air
Force's fleet.
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Notably, Pakistan commissioned its first batch of Chinese-developed J-10Cs in March 2022, and these aircraft can seamlessly integrate with their Chinese counterparts through the PLA Air Force’s KJ-500 early warning aircraft.
Experts anticipate a deepening of high-level exchanges, joint exercises among the armies, navies, and air forces of both countries, personnel training, as well as expanded technology cooperation, including arms sales and joint development, in the future.
Source: APP