The Pakistan Air Force (PAF, Pakistan Fiza’ya) has inducted the Chengdu J-10CE “Dragon” multirole fighter into service in a ceremony on March 11 attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan and the chief of the air staff, air chief marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu. The Chinese-made J-10CE is intended to begin the replacement of the PAF’s Dassault Mirage III/5 fleet, the induction event occurring almost 54 years to the day since the first of the French delta-wing fighters arrived In Pakistan.
Having forged close links with China at both military and industrial levels, Pakistan was the natural choice to become the first export customer for the J-10, and signed an order for at least 25 of the type on June 25, 2021. The number is expected to rise to at least 36. Aircraft wearing PAF markings were noted undergoing flight tests at the factory airfield in Chengdu during February, and the first batch of six —all single-seaters—was ferried to Pakistan on March 4. Pakistan has stated an aim to have 25 in service by March 23 to take part in the national day flypast. The PAF unit nominated to operate the type is No. 15 Squadron “Cobras”, which formerly flew Mirage IIIs and 5s from Rafiqui.
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