The J-10C, known for downing Indian fighter jets during the India-Pakistan conflict, has recently drawn significant attention from military enthusiasts. On June 2, China Central Television’s military channel aired an episode of Lijian Observation, revealing real-combat training footage of J-10C fighter jets from a brigade under the PLA Air Force’s Northern Theater Command. In the video, multiple J-10Cs perform complex aerial maneuvers during a realistic combat drill. Pilots demonstrate, from a first-person perspective, how to evade enemy lock-ons through high-g maneuvers in both horizontal and vertical directions.
According to CCTV, the drill focused on simulating “within-visual-range” (WVR) aerial dogfights typical of modern air combat. The footage shows J-10C pilots rapidly adjusting heading, altitude, and speed in a matter of seconds, using the aircraft’s superior agility to disrupt enemy targeting.
The program emphasized: “Close-range dogfights not only test a pilot’s overall tactical and technical abilities and sharpen their fighting spirit in ‘aerial bayonet’ scenarios, but also serve as an effective method to offset generational differences when facing stealth fighters, by leveraging high maneuverability.”
The episode also highlighted that the J-10 series previously triumphed at the 2021 International Military Games “Aviadarts” event, outperforming competitors from multiple countries thanks to its advanced avionics and agility. The J-10C also earned a three-time championship streak in the PLA Air Force’s “Golden Helmet” competition.
Notably, during the recent Shangri-La Dialogue held in Singapore, Pakistani Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Sahir Shamshad Mirza, acknowledged the crucial role played by the J-10CE in the India-Pakistan air conflict. In an interview with Chinese media, he stated, “Why were we able to achieve such results? There’s no doubt that the JF-17 Thunder, J-10CE, and PL-15E played a pivotal role.”
According to earlier reports, following a military operation launched by Indian forces against Pakistan on May 6, Pakistan claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets and one drone. The downed aircraft allegedly included three French-made Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30. On May 17, CCTV News cited sources stating that the J-10C was responsible for downing multiple enemy aircraft during the air battle, though specific models were not disclosed.
At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) held on May 20 in Malaysia, the J-10C also took center stage at China’s pavilion, drawing attention and photo ops from various international delegations.
