The sustained tensions between India and Pakistan are unlikely to snowball into a full-scale war. However, if a limited conflict breaks out, China would be keenly watching the performance of some of its military equipment supplied to Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar recently warned that it had “credible intelligence” that New Delhi would launch a military strike in a few days. He said India could launch an attack and that “any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively.”
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has given the Indian military “operational freedom” to decide on the mode, target, and timing of the response to the terror attack.
Fearing an attack from the Indian military (as seen in the past after the Uri and Pulwama terror attacks in Kashmir), the Pakistani military remains on high alert. Reports suggest that it has activated its air defenses, moved military equipment closer to the border with India, and launched military drills in an attempt to project power.
Intermittent cross-border firing along the Line of Control (LOC) has been reported since the attack, and could easily intensify. Whether it will escalate into a limited or full-blown conflict remains to be seen.
Test Of Weapons
The battlefield in Ukraine became the testing ground for Western and Russian weapons. For instance, the combat prowess displayed by the HIMARS Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or Patriot missile defense led to a big boost in their global reputation, with new export orders piling up.
A possible war in the South Asian subcontinent could be a litmus test of Chinese weapons supplied to Pakistan.
J-10C Fighter Jet
Pakistan bought 25 Chinese J-10C in 2021, becoming the first and only export customer of China’s 4.5th-generation indigenous aircraft. The J-10C was inducted into the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in 2022.
At the time, the then-PAF chief said the J-10C would “revolutionize its operational thought and enhance net-centric and integrated employment of electronic warfare while ensuring retention of first-shot capabilities.”
The J-10C is frequently compared to the US F-16 Block 70, an aircraft currently being marketed to prospective buyers globally. The J-10C features an indigenous Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, an imaging infrared seeker (IIR) PL-10, a WS-10B engine, and PL-15 air-to-air missiles.
It features state-of-the-art capabilities, including electronic warfare, computerized glass cockpit instruments, precise air-to-ground strike, beyond-visual-range combat, and in-flight refueling. A detailed EurAsian Times report on the capabilities of the J-10C Vigorous Dragon can be read here.
The J-10C’s performance will be watched, especially since China has been aggressively pursuing the Middle East market for its aircraft exports. It promotes the J-10C as a better alternative to the US F-16, the European Eurofighter Typhoon, and the French Rafale, capitalizing on its lower cost (US$40-50 million).
Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired), an IAF fighter test pilot, believes the comparison between the J-10CE and Rafale fighter jets is “somewhat unfair” as the latter is a twin-engine combat-proven fighter jet. Its electronic warfare suite is unparalleled.
“The J-10 and the Rafale can be termed 4.5-generation multi-role fighter jets that, on some counts, have similar performance and capabilities. However, the Rafale has a clear edge over the J-10 in terms of technology, weapons, aero-engines, and combat experience,” the senior ex-IAF official said.
If a clash erupts, China and all other countries exploring the acquisition of the J-10C fighter would be keenly watching the jet’s performance against a combat-tested, cutting-edge, French-origin fighter.
JF-17 Fighter Jet
Pakistan also operates the JF-17 fighter jet, developed jointly with its closest ally, China. It is a light-weight, multi-role fighter.
The aircraft has advanced avionics, electronics, flight control systems, and an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. It can also fire Chinese air-to-air missiles, such as the PL-10, PL-12, and PL-15. It is capable of carrying various weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, guided and unguided bombs, and anti-ship missiles.
The combination of the JF-17 and PL-15 could prove particularly deadly, as it will enable Pakistan to hit a target 200-300 kilometres away. The JF-17 will be able to launch a stand-off attack without risking entry into the heavily defended Indian airspace.
Both China and Pakistan have been looking for potential buyers for the latest variant of the aircraft, the JF-17 Block III. In recent times, the JF-17 lost to the F-16 for the Argentine deal and to the Korean FA-50 for the Malaysian deal.
The performance of the aircraft against the Indian Air Force, which is composed of cutting-edge fighters like the Su-30MKI, Rafale, and Mirage-2000, will be watched by observers across the world, especially by Nigeria, Myanmar, and Azerbaijan, which have already purchased the JF-17, as well as countries such as Bolivia and Iraq, which are evaluating the jets for procurement.
Pakistan’s S-400: HQ-9 AD System
The HQ-9 is a long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) system developed by China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corporation (CPMIEC). It is designed to intercept various aerial threats, including fighter jets, drones, and missiles.
The system was developed based on technology derived from Almaz-Antey, the Russian company that makes the S-300, S-400, and S-500 air defense systems.
The HQ-9 was developed using Almaz-Antey technology, incorporating elements from the Russian S-300 missile system. The system entered service in the early 2000s. The HQ-9A variant entered service in 2001. Later, more advanced versions, like the HQ-9B, were inducted. In 2021, Pakistan acquired its HQ-9P variant.
The system is equipped with a Track-via-missile (TVM) system that combines inertial guidance, mid-course uplink, and terminal active radar or semi-active radar homing (SARH). It uses HT-233 3D phased-array radar, capable of tracking up to 100 targets.
In the Chinese Armed Forces, an HQ-9 battery comprises a command vehicle, six control vehicles, six targeting radar vehicles, six search radar vehicles, 48 missile-launch vehicles, and 192 missiles, along with a positioning vehicle, a communications vehicle, a power supply vehicle, and a support vehicle.
While the HQ-9B has an engagement range of 250-300 km, the Pakistan Army’s HQ-9P only has a claimed engagement range of 125 km. Engagement ranges against cruise missiles and similar targets are thought to be much shorter, around 25 km.
The missile defense system could play a crucial role in deterring Indian warplanes and drones.
SH-15 Howitzer
The SH-15, inducted into the Pakistan Army in 2019, is a 6×6 wheeled howitzer designed for mobility and lethality. Its 155mm gun, compliant with NATO standards, fires a range of munitions, including high-explosive shells, laser-guided GP6 rounds, and rocket-assisted projectiles, with a range of up to 50 km.
With a maximum rate of fire of 6 rounds per minute, it can deliver devastating barrages against enemy positions, supply lines, or infrastructure. The system’s digital fire control, GPS/BeiDou navigation, and thermal imaging ensure pinpoint accuracy, even in Kashmir’s rugged terrain.
Weighing 25 tons, the SH-15 is lighter than tracked howitzers like India’s K9 (Thunder) Vajra, allowing rapid deployment via roads or airlift. Its automated loading system and five-man crew enhance efficiency, while a 12.7mm machine gun provides close-in defense.
The howitzer’s mobility—reaching speeds of 90 km/h—suits hit-and-run tactics, which are critical for short, intense engagements.
The howitzer’s range and precision make it ideal for targeting Indian forward posts, command centers, or troop concentrations, disrupting the Indian military’s operations.
CH-4 Drone
If a clash erupts between India and Pakistan, Chinese-origin UAVs could boost Pakistan’s capabilities. Among these, the CH-4B Rainbow, a combat-proven drone, stands out as a key asset for reconnaissance, precision strikes, and intelligence gathering, particularly along the Line of Control (LoC).
The CH-4B, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV that resembles the U.S. MQ-9 Reaper.
With a 14-hour endurance and a 1,500 km range, it can loiter over contested areas, providing real-time intelligence or engaging targets. Its 345 kg payload supports a mix of munitions, including AR-1 laser-guided missiles, FT-9 bombs, and anti-radiation missiles to suppress enemy air defenses.
Equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors and synthetic aperture radar, the CH-4B excels in day-night operations and adverse weather, critical for Kashmir’s rugged terrain. The drone’s satellite link enables beyond-line-of-sight control, allowing operators to coordinate strikes from secure bases.
Pakistan’s CH-4B drones are a potent tool for a short war, offering surveillance, strikes, and electronic warfare capabilities. They could disrupt Indian operations along the LoC or in border regions, but their effectiveness hinges on evading India’s air defense missiles like the “mighty” S-400.
- By: ET Desk
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
