New Delhi (Defence Correspondent): According to the latest Chinese media reports, Pakistan is set to procure 40 advanced Chinese J-35 stealth fighter jets, a news that has not only left India bothered but also other major players in the region.
It is so because if the deal proceeds, Pakistan will become the first country outside China to operate the J-35. This deal is expected to recalibrate regional dynamics, particularly in relation to Pakistan’s rival, India.
If reports are to be believed, the jets are expected to be delivered within two years and will replace the Pakistani Air Force’s aging fleet of American F-16s and French Mirage fighters.
Why these jets may be a game changer for Pakistan is also because J-35 is China’s second fifth-generation stealth fighter, after the J-20. The machine, a supersonic superior fighter is capable of effectively performing in both land and sea missions.
But at the same time, this deal is also indicative of the fact that China has gotten into mass production of the J-35.
But should India be worried?
If we talk of India’s air force strength, the IAF has a variety of aircraft, including the Apache AH-64E attack helicopter, the Mi-35 attack helicopter, and the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH). The IAF is also acquiring frontline combat aircraft with precision weapons and other technologies.
The IAF has a large and well-trained helicopter force that includes the Mi-17 V5 medium lift helicopter and has been modernizing its equipment since the late 1990s, replacing Soviet-era aircraft and developing new aircraft, weapons, and technologies.
Additionally, the IAF also operates the Integrated Space Cell, which combines the military with civilian space exploration organizations.
Other than having an advanced fleet and modern age warfare, the IAF plans to reach 42 squadrons by 2035, deploy 450 fighter jets along the borders specially towards China and Pakistan and indigenize the entire fighter jet fleet by 2042.
At the same time if we were to draw a comparison between the existing strength of the Pakistani air force and that of India’s, while our country has got 2,296 aircrafts, our neighbour has a fleet of 1,434. Of fighter jets, while Pakistan has around 400, India has got around 100 more.
India also has an upper edge when it comes to advanced technology, including the S-400 defence system.
Talking of existing strength India’s Su-30MKI fighter jets are the most advanced models, while Pakistan’s F-16s are base models.
India’s military budget also is much larger than that of Pakistan’s. For 2024-25 India’s spent was USD 75 billion, which was multi folds to Pakistan’s USD 10 billion.
What is more important is that India continues to modernize its air force through projects like the Tejas Mark-II fighters and advanced drones and has got a world ranking of being the fourth largest in the world, while Pakistan’s is the seventh largest.
Ultimately therefore it is the capacity to innovate and to research that gets India an upper hand to Pakistan. Experts believe as far as India is high on the advancement of its new age warfare, it will continue to enjoy the status of being a global elite when it comes to comparison of defence infrastructure. They say this will continue regardless of the fact that which of India’s rival nations come to back up countries like Pakistan who have constantly been injecting harm in our country’s growth and harmony for years now.
