The Zilzal-II air exercise hosted by Qatar is currently underway, and the Pakistani J-10 fleet is participating in it. This marks the first overseas deployment of the J-10s, which were introduced in March 2022. The Pakistan Air Force has stated that the J-10s will be pitted against Eurofighters in the exercise, which could provide insight into how the Chinese platform compares to its Western counterpart. Both aircraft are equipped with active electronically scanned array radar and have the ability to use beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles, such as the MBDA Meteor for the Eurofighter and the export version of the PL-15 for the J-10C. The PAF has expressed that the participation of the J-10Cs in this aerial exercise is a significant milestone in its journey towards building a technologically advanced and formidable air force. It also showcases the PAF's commitment to keeping its force cutting-edge and capable of meeting evolving challenges while defending Pakistan's airspace with the utmost proficiency.
.gif)
The Zilzal-II air exercise is currently underway in Qatar, with the Pakistani J-10 fleet taking part in the exercise for the first time overseas. The J-10s were introduced in March 2022 and are a fourth-generation, multi-role fighter aircraft developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group in China. The Pakistan Air Force has expressed that the participation of the J-10Cs in this aerial exercise marks a significant milestone in its journey towards building a technologically advanced and formidable air force.
In this exercise, the J-10s are facing off against Eurofighters, which are fourth-generation, twin-engine, and multirole fighter aircraft developed by a consortium of European aerospace manufacturers led by the UK's BAE Systems. The exercise aims to provide an understanding of the effectiveness of the Chinese platform against its Western counterpart. Both aircraft are equipped with active electronically scanned array radar that provides enhanced situational awareness and can use beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.
The Eurofighter is equipped with the MBDA Meteor missile, which is a next-generation, active radar-guided, beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile that offers a significant performance advantage over existing missiles. On the other hand, the J-10Cs use the export version of the PL-15 missile, which is a similar missile that was developed and produced by China's Luoyang Electro-Optical Technology Development Centre. The PAF has stated that the rapid acquisition and operationalization of these advanced fighter aircraft demonstrates its dedication to maintaining a cutting-edge force capable of meeting evolving challenges while defending Pakistan's airspace with utmost proficiency. This exercise also showcases the PAF's commitment to developing a technologically advanced and formidable air force.