After reportedly incurring significant losses in a four-day combat with India, the Pakistani military is undergoing a Chinese makeover, with the acquisition of cutting-edge equipment, including J-35A stealth fighters, KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&CS), and HQ-19 air defense (AD) systems.
The Government of Pakistan confirmed the offer on June 6 in a post on X. The official announcement stated that, in addition to the cutting-edge military equipment, China has also offered a debt deferment of $3.7 billion.
Additionally, Chinese telecom giant Huawei will train 100,000 Pakistanis in Information Technology (IT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), it added.
The offer, which includes some of China’s most cutting-edge military weapons, shows China’s steadfast commitment to equipping Pakistan and strengthening military ties between the two nations.
It is noteworthy that Beijing has been Islamabad’s largest arms supplier since the end of the Cold War, providing a range of military hardware, including fighter jets, missiles, drones, and air defense systems. A Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) report published earlier this year stated that Pakistan accounted for about 63% of Chinese arms exports between 2020 and 2024.
Several Indian analysts believe that China’s sale of arms to Pakistan is driven by the need to conduct real-time testing of these weapons and counter India’s rising regional influence.
The Chinese offer comes days after the Indo-Pakistan military clash, which saw the deployment of several Chinese-origin weapons, including the J-10CE fighter jets, PL-15E missiles, HQ-9 and HQ-16 AD systems, Early Warning aircraft, and drones, by Pakistan.
China’s offer of KJ-500 AEW&CS to Pakistan particularly stands out amid Indian reports that Pakistan lost two Saab Erieye-2000 AEW&CS in combat. While one of these flying radars was downed by an Indian S-400 air defense system, the other was lost in an Indian missile strike on Pakistan’s Bholari Air Base.
The KJ-500 offer could be aimed at replenishing Pakistan’s early warning fleet.
An AEW&CS aircraft is crucial in combat as it provides real-time surveillance, command, and control over large areas. Its powerful radars can detect warplanes, missiles, and even drones at long ranges, providing critical situational awareness that ground-based radars may struggle to match.
The aircraft is used to coordinate air operations, guide fighters, and integrate data from multiple sources, including satellites, other aircraft, and ground-based sensors, serving as airborne command centers. This role is vital in complex, dynamic battlefields where rapid decision-making is crucial.
In general, an AEW&CS aircraft enables early warning of incoming threats, including low-flying aircraft or cruise missiles, which are harder to detect from the ground. They essentially extend the range of air defense networks and enhance offensive operations by guiding assets efficiently.
It cannot be overstated that the Pakistani Air Force (PAF), much like its Indian counterpart, needs a potent AEW&CS, especially since the possibility of conflict is never off the table.
KJ-500: Pakistan’s Upcoming Eye In The Sky
The KJ-500, short for Kongjing-500, is a Chinese airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft developed by the Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation. It is designed to enhance situational awareness and command capabilities for air and naval operations by detecting, tracking, and coordinating responses to airborne and maritime threats.
The aircraft is based on the Y-9 airframe, which provides a balance of endurance, payload capacity, and cost-effectiveness compared to jet-based AEW&C systems. It is used by both the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People’s Liberation Army Naval Aviation.
The KJ-500 is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar mounted in a fixed rotodome on top of the fuselage. Compared to its predecessor, the KJ-200, the KJ-500 features a more sophisticated, omnidirectional AESA radar in its circular radome, which previously had a linear “balance beam” radar.
Depending on the radar cross-section of the target and the surrounding conditions, the radar of the KJ-500 can identify and track multiple objects, including ships, airplanes, and missiles, at estimated ranges of 300–470 kilometres. Additionally, it can reportedly track over 100 targets simultaneously.
It provides 360-degree coverage, improving detection of low-flying targets and cruise missiles compared to earlier Chinese AEW&C platforms.
The aircraft incorporates advanced electronic surveillance systems, including electronic support measures (ESM) that detect and analyze enemy radar and communication signals. It enables network-centric warfare by providing secure data linkages for real-time coordination with naval assets, ground stations, and fighter jets. It has an endurance of approximately 8 to 10 hours.
In the Pakistani service, the KJ-500’s sophisticated radar and command capabilities may potentially counterbalance India’s numerical and technological advantages by enhancing Pakistan’s ability to detect Indian aircraft and missiles at an early stage. Additionally, it will help bolster maritime domain awareness in the Arabian Sea and counter India’s naval presence.
The KJ-500 will serve as an airborne command post, enabling real-time coordination between Pakistani fighter jets, such as the J-10C, JF-17, and J-35A, as well as ground-based air defenses like the HQ-9P, HQ-19, and HQ-16, and Pakistani naval assets. This network-centric capability will essentially enhance Pakistan’s ability to respond swiftly to Indian air operations.
It is safe to say that this acquisition would make sense now more than ever, as it comes days after India launched surprise long-range missile strikes against targets deep inside the Pakistani territory.
Last month, China Space News reported that during the conflict with India, the PAF integrated fighter jets, ground radars, and airborne warning aircraft into a “locked by A, launched by B, guided by C” combat system. Pakistan’s strategy shared real-time data.
The report stated that ground systems locked onto targets, patrol jets fired missiles from a safe distance, and then AWACS smoothly directed the ordnance to its target.
If these claims are anything to go by, the KJ-500 would significantly bolster PAF’s future air operations against its adversaries. Pakistan used the ZDK-03 AWACS acquired from Beijing in the brief battle with India. However, the acquisition of KJ-500 would be a massive leap in early warning capability for Pakistan.
J-35A & HQ-19 Also On The Cards
Pakistan’s official confirmation about the J-35A offer from China comes days after Janes reported that China will begin supplying the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) with its Shenyang FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” multirole stealth fighter aircraft within months. The FC-31 is believed to be the export variant of the J-35A, a fifth-generation stealth aircraft unveiled by China at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2024.
Sources in Pakistan claim that the performance of Chinese-origin J-10CE against India (PAF claims downing three Rafale using PL-15E missile fired from J-10CE) has reinforced its faith in Chinese fighters, paving the way for the induction of the J-35A into service.
The J-35A/FC-31 is an appropriate choice for the PAF, particularly because India does not have a fifth-generation stealth fighter. This was explained in a detailed report published by the EurAsian Times recently.
The FC-31, developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), is a single-seat, twin-engine, medium-sized fifth-generation fighter that features advanced stealth capabilities, including a low-observable design with forward-swept intake ramps, Diverterless Supersonic Inlet (DSI) bumps, and composite materials to evade L-band and Ku-band radars.
It is powered by WS-19 engines, which provide the aircraft with a thrust of 12 tons. The aircraft features two internal weapon bays, each with a capacity for two medium-range air-to-air missiles, and external hardpoints for various bombs and missiles, including air-to-ground and air-to-surface munitions.
Designed for air superiority, close air support, air interdiction, and precision strikes, the aircraft features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and advanced sensor fusion for enhanced situational awareness.
The induction of this aircraft could tilt the regional balance in Pakistan’s favour, which explains China’s alacrity in exporting the aircraft to Islamabad.
The other system China has offered Pakistan is the HQ-19 air defense system. It is an anti-ballistic missile defense system rumored to be China’s alternative to the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
The system was unveiled by China last year at the Zhuhai Air Show. A placard from the air show read: “The HO-19 is a new-generation surface-to-air missile independently developed by China, which is mainly deployed to intercept ballistic missiles invading the region.
It features extensive combat-protection coverage, strong penetration, and effective countermeasure capabilities. HQ-19 is the cadre equipment for air-defense and anti-missile operations in China.”
While the details of the system remain classified, the HQ-19, designed to intercept medium- to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles, and potentially low-orbit satellites. It was showcased alongside its mobile transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) and Type 610A radar.
The range of HQ-19 is speculated to be between 1,000 to 3,000 kilometers. This has led military analysts to position the HQ-19 as an alternative to the US THAAD, which can acquire and track targets up to 3,000 kilometers away when in its forward-based mode. As per speculation, the HQ-19 likely uses the “hit-to-kill” technology, which is typical for US interceptor missiles.
The information about the system cannot be independently verified by the EurAsian Times. However, if it is true, the system would be beneficial against lethal Indian long-range missiles fired on Pakistan from a stand-off distance.
If paired with the KJ-500 AEW&C, the HQ-19 could also integrate with Pakistan’s air defense network, enhancing situational awareness and coordination with systems like the J-10C and HQ-9BE.
The latest India-Pakistan conflict exposed vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s air defenses. India’s use of precision-guided munitions and drones highlighted the limitations of Pakistan’s existing Chinese-supplied systems like the HQ-9P and HQ-16FE, which have limited anti-ballistic missile (ABM) capabilities.
Both systems were caught napping when Indian strikes obliterated high-value targets in the heart of Pakistan. The more advanced HQ-19 will fill the capability gap and provide a robust air defense for Pakistani forces.
In conclusion, China’s offer couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time for Islamabad, which has recently recognized the need to consistently enhance its capabilities to counter an adversary like India.
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