Pakistan's J-10CEs used internal radar system to to engage Indian aircraft during 2025 air fight
A Ukrainian defence publication has claimed that the
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) relied exclusively on the onboard radar systems of its
Chinese-built J-10CE fighter jets during the May 2025 aerial confrontation with
India, challenging earlier assessments that the operation depended heavily on
airborne surveillance aircraft.
According to Defense Express, which cited remarks by
Chinese radar engineer Ben De in an interview with China Central Television
(CCTV), Pakistani J-10CE fighters were able to detect, track and engage Indian
combat aircraft—including French-built Rafale fighters—using only their own
radar systems.
If accurate, the disclosure would represent a notable
shift from previous military analyses, which suggested that Pakistan's reported
operational success was achieved through the combined use of J-10CE fighters, ZDK-03
Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft, and PL-15 long-range
air-to-air missiles.
Read More China's
fighter jet performance in Pakistan-India clash being observed by world’s
militaries
New Claims Challenge Earlier Assessments
For months, defence observers believed that Pakistan's
AEW&C fleet played a central role in providing continuous situational
awareness and target tracking during the engagement.
However, according to the report, Ben De—the developer
associated with the J-10CE's radar system—stated that Pakistani pilots
independently searched for, detected, locked onto and engaged aerial targets at
distances of up to 200 kilometres, without relying on direct support from
airborne early warning platforms.
The report further claimed that Indian aircraft were
unable to detect the radar activity before the engagements took place.
Advanced Radar Technology Highlighted
Ben De attributed the reported performance to the KLJ-7A
active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, saying its advanced
electronic warfare features allowed it to remain difficult to detect.
According to his explanation, the radar continuously
shifts operating frequencies across a broad spectrum, employs pulse-compression
techniques and disguises emitted signals as background electronic noise. These
capabilities, he claimed, reduced the likelihood of triggering radar warning
receivers or missile threat alert systems aboard opposing aircraft.
Read More Global
journal identifies serial numbers of downed Indian jets in May clash with
Pakistan
Defence Systems Allegedly Bypassed
The report also asserted that the radar's operating
characteristics enabled Pakistani fighters to avoid detection by radar warning
systems fitted to Russian-origin MiG-29 and Su-30MKI aircraft, as well as the Thales
Spectra electronic warfare suite installed on India's Rafale fighters.
Independent Verification Unavailable
The claims published by Defense Express and attributed to Ben De have not
been independently verified. Neither the Pakistan Air Force nor the Indian Air
Force has publicly confirmed the operational details described in the report.
Military analysts note that the full circumstances of the May 2025 aerial
engagement remain subject to competing narratives, and many technical aspects
of the encounter are likely to remain classified.
Source: The Current