Beijing has made its first official admission about giving aerial support to the neighbouring Pakistan during the four-day war with India last year, saying that it provided “technical assistance” to Islamabad’s Air Force as the Chinese-made J-10CE fighter jet shot down the French-made Rafale fighter jet flown by the pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) during Operation Sindoor.
In an interview aired by China’s state broadcaster CCTV, Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s (AVIC) Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, said that it was for the first time, that a Chinese fighter J-10E, a 4.5 generation multirole combat aircraft with high manoeuvrability, was able to down a twin-engine multirole Rafale jet designed by Dassault Aviation.
Rafale is the flagship for French air superiority and nuclear deterrence, widely flown by the French Air Force, and the Air Forces of India, Egypt and Indonesia. It entered service with the French Navy in 2004 and the French Air Force in 2006. The Indian Air Force (IAF) operates 36 Dassault Rafale multirole fighter jets, fully deployed across two frontline squadrons. These jets, contracted in 2016, are considered the most advanced in India’s inventory, providing superior air defence and precision strike capabilities on the western and northern borders. India is in the process of finalising a major deal to purchase an additional 114 Rafale aircraft to bolster its aerial capabilities.
(Rafale, a fully “Omnirole” fighter developed by Dassault Aviation. Credit: Dassault Aviation.)
The Chengdu J-10CE ‘Dragon’ fighter jet is the export variant of the J-10C in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). These jets were induced in Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in March 2022 as part of the purchase of 20 aircraft along with 250 PL-15 missiles in 2020.
(The Chengdu J-10CE ‘Dragon’ fighter jet is the export variant of the J-10C in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Credit: X)
This would be the first time that Beijing confirmed the deployment of its aircraft in a high-intensity combat operation in Pakistan.
Chinese Engineer: ‘Frequently Heard Roar of Fighter Jets’
The engineer at the key developer of China’s advanced fighter aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle design noted that during the May Indo-Pak war, at the support base, “we frequently heard the roar of fighter jets taking off and the constant wail of air-raid sirens.” He continued that the temperature was already approaching 50 degrees Celsius [122 degrees Fahrenheit] in May, and “it was a real ordeal for us, both mentally and physically.”
Zhang told CCTV that, despite the challenges, his team had the “desire to do an even better job with on‑site support.” It ensured that their [Pakistan Air Force’s] equipment could “truly perform at its full combat potential.” Focusing on the role of J-10C fighters in the hostilities, Zhang further noted that it wasn’t just about the recognition of the Chinese-made J‑10CE, but also “a testament to the deep bond we [China and Pakistan] formed through working side by side, day in and day out.”
One other employee at the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, Xu Da, described the Chinese aircraft as a “child” that was nurtured by the defence production firm. “We nurtured it, cared for it, and finally handed it over to the user. And now, it was facing a major test,” he told CCTV. He called the downing of the Rafale “outstanding results the J-10CE achieved,” adding that the staff wasn’t surprised at all, but that the outcome felt “inevitable.”
The aircraft just needed the right opportunity. And when that moment came, it delivered exactly as we knew it would, Xu Da stressed.
It’s official!🇨🇳For the first time, China confirms it provided technical support to🇵🇰#Pakista‘s air force during war with🇮🇳#India last year.
During the conflict, a Chinese-made fighter J-10CE shot down India’s French-made fighters. It’s the first time a Rafale had been brought… pic.twitter.com/jZKAAJAYMT
— Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) May 8, 2026
Sino-Pak Deepening Defense Ties
While China’s admission of providing significant technological and intelligence support to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has sent ripples through the South Asian security landscape, Beijing also acknowledged that its assistance was instrumental in maintaining Pakistan’s aerial capabilities during the high-stakes military standoff.
These rare remarks marked the departure from China’s usual stance of “neutrality” in Indo-Pakistani disputes, signalling a “deeper and more overt” military alliance between Beijing and Islamabad. This is further confirmed as the two allied nations are further deepening their defence ties with the planned transfer of China’s advanced J-35 stealth fighters to Pakistan.
Pakistan is set to receive advanced Chinese J-35 (specifically J-35AE or J-35A variants) fifth-generation stealth fighters, with deliveries potentially starting late 2026 or 2027. This move, aimed at bolstering the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) against India, will likely make Pakistan the first export customer for the aircraft.
Pakistan Air Force Group Captain Sultan M. Hali, in a statement, described the potential acquisition as Pakistan’s entry into “the fifth-generation era with an entire combat ecosystem.” He argued that Islamabad’s interest is centred upon an integrated network-centric warfare capability rather than merely procuring another combat aircraft platform.
Analysts suggest that this support was not merely logistical but involved real-time data sharing and technical maintenance for Chinese-origin platforms used by the PAF. The disclosure has prompted immediate concern in New Delhi, where officials are re-evaluating the challenges of a potential two-front security threat.
‘Ops Sindoor’
During the “Ops Sindoor,” the PAF relied heavily on a sophisticated network of Chinese-supplied electronic warfare systems and satellite data to monitor Indian troop movements. Sources told Chinese state-run agencies that the Chinese technical teams “were stationed in Pakistan” to ensure the operational readiness of joint-venture aircraft, such as the JF-17 Thunder, and to integrate real-time sensor data from Chinese satellites into the Pakistani command structure.
This level of integration allowed the PAF to conduct precision operations while mitigating the risk of detection by Indian radar systems.
“The partnership between China and Pakistan during the recent conflict demonstrated a high level of interoperability and strategic trust,” a spokesperson for a Beijing-linked military research institute stated. While China maintains that its assistance was intended to “ensure regional balance,” Indian defence experts argue that the intervention directly influenced the tactical outcome of the skirmishes.
The recent statement confirms long-held suspicions in the Indian intelligence community regarding the extent of Beijing’s “invisible hand” in the conflict.
Pakistan & The J-35 Factor
Looking beyond the India-Pakistan conflict, the strategic landscape is set for a major shift as Pakistan prepares to induct the J-35, China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter and forges a strengthening defence collaboration with Beijing on the warfare front. The move can clearly be seen as a direct counter to India’s procurement of advanced Western and Russian systems, potentially leaving Islamabad grappling for a qualitative edge in its stealth technology to counter India’s military prowess.
The J-35 is designed to be a multi-role fighter capable of evading modern radar; this capability significantly complicated India’s air defence strategies along the Line of Control.
Military observers note that the introduction of fifth-generation technology to the PAF represents a “quantum leap” in Pakistan’s offensive capabilities. “The J-35 will not just be another aircraft in the fleet; it will serve as the centrepiece of Pakistan’s strategy to achieve air superiority in contested environments,” a regional defence analyst noted.
This transfer is expected to involve comprehensive training programs and the establishment of local maintenance facilities, further cementing China’s role as Pakistan’s primary security guarantor.
A Shifting Balance of Power?
The dual Chinese revelations about the past military support to Pakistan and future stealth transfers underscore the evolving nature of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into a more robust military-based partnership.
For New Delhi, the confirmation of Chinese “personal” involvement in “Ops Sindoor” validates the need for increased domestic defence manufacturing and stronger ties with Quad partners to offset the growing Sino-Pakistani axis.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a formal response to Beijing’s confirmation, though senior military officials have reiterated that the Indian armed forces remain “fully prepared” for any escalation.
As the J-35 program moves forward, the traditional arms race in South Asia can be seen entering a new, more complex phase involving high-end electronic warfare, stealth, and satellite-guided operations. The strategic “iron brotherhood” between Beijing and Islamabad, touted as a matter of diplomatic rhetoric, can be seen manifesting on the battlefield and in the cockpit. It can be said that the stability of the nuclear-armed region now hinges more than ever on the actions of Beijing rather than Pakistan.
