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Tang Meng Kit

Not long ago, Chinese fighter jets were dismissed as reverse-engineered relics of Soviet design. They appeared modern but lacked combat pedigree. Analysts questioned whether the People’s Liberation Army Air Force could match Western air forces in capability, resilience or technological sophistication.
That scepticism appears to be fading. Recent developments show Chinese air power is not only advancing but maturing. With its fifth-generation stealth fighters and sixth-generation designs, China is shifting from imitation to innovation and from regional ambition to global competition. A dragon has at last entered the skies, and its ascent deserves close strategic attention.
For many years, China’s military aviation progressed without direct operational validation. No matter how many aircraft China built or exported, none had been tested in a high-stakes battle.
That changed when the Pakistan Air Force reportedly deployed the Chinese-made J-10C during an aerial clash with India last week. As confirmed by US officials speaking anonymously, the J-10C fighter jets, equipped with Chinese PL-15 missiles, shot down at least two Indian jets, including one French-made Rafale.
The success of the J-10C, featuring an advanced radar system called an active electronically scanned array (AESA), is the first in combat for Chinese aircraft using domestic systems. It represents a breakthrough moment, as Chinese air power turns theory into practice.
The performance of the J-10C revealed more than technological maturity. It demonstrated a doctrinal shift. China has embraced ecosystem-centric warfare. This approach prioritises information dominance, situational awareness and the coordination of multiple assets. It is an evolution that mirrors strategies pioneered by the United States but is tailored to Chinese strengths in mass production and systems integration.


The rise of Chinese air power is not solely the result of better designs. It is underpinned by deep industrial reform. China has developed a vertically integrated aerospace manufacturing sector which no longer depends on Russian parts or foreign technologies.
Today, advanced fighters such as the J-20 are produced at scale using domestic WS-15 engines, digital avionics and low-observable coatings. More than 200 J-20s have been fielded, reflecting not only technological competence but also the country’s ability to build and sustain an advanced air fleet.
China is no longer content with catching up. It now seeks to lead. This ambition is evident in its pursuit of sixth-generation aircraft, including what has been unofficially dubbed the J-36. Satellite imagery, patents and mock-up displays suggest a tailless design, stealth capabilities, artificial intelligence support, large internal power capacity and drone swarm abilities.
If realised, these features would place China at the forefront of future air combat. The emphasis is shifting from speed and agility to survivability, sensor reach and system control. China appears to be building aircraft not just to fight but to command the airspace around them.


The consequences of China’s rise in air power are already visible across Asia. In the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, Chinese deployments have complicated the balance of deterrence. The presence of long-range stealth fighters such as the J-20 and the increasing sophistication of carrier-based operations signal a shift in strategic posture.
Naval aviation, once a gap in Chinese capability, is expanding with the J-15 carrier-based fighter. Although based on older Russian designs, recent variants feature improved engines, radar systems and avionics. Their integration with a growing aircraft carrier fleet enhances China’s ability to project air power into the Western Pacific.
Beyond the region, China is becoming a major player in the global arms market. Countries in the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia are in the market for Chinese fighters. These aircraft offer near-Western performance at lower prices and without restrictive export conditions. As a result, Beijing is expanding its defence influence and embedding its standards into the air forces of emerging powers.
For policymakers in the US, Japan, Australia and India, China’s transformation presents a direct challenge to long-standing assumptions. Air superiority, once a cornerstone of Western deterrence, can no longer be taken for granted.




The appropriate response for these countries is adaptation rather than alarm. Defence planners must account for a peer competitor that can build, deploy and export combat-ready platforms at speed. They must also understand that China’s strengths lie not just in airframes but in integration: connecting aircraft with space, cyber and unmanned systems.
This challenge extends to interoperability. Nations that purchase Chinese systems could find themselves increasingly reliant on Beijing for maintenance, upgrades and training. Over time, this creates subtle strategic dependencies which reshape alliances and influence.
The evolution of Chinese air power is one of the most consequential developments in global security today. What began as a modest imitation of Soviet technology has matured into a sophisticated, strategically assertive force.
Whether China will achieve true air supremacy remains to be seen. But one fact is clear: the dragon is airborne, and the era of underestimating Chinese air power is over.


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China’s military

J-10C success in India-Pakistan clash testifies to China’s air superiority

Chinese J-10 fighter jets perform during the first edition of the Egypt International Airshow at al-Alamein airport on September 4. Photo: AP

How did China’s J-10C match up to French Rafale in India-Pakistan aerial clash?

Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets are on the international market at an estimated price of US$50 mllion each, with Pakistan the only overseas buyer so far. Photo: AFP

The Indian Air Force’s French-made Rafale fighter jets must coordinate with Russian air defence stations and Israeli airborne early warning and control aircraft. Photo: Reuters

China faces a tough balancing act with India and Pakistan

Illustration: Craig Stephens

Kashmir conflict: the Chinese warplanes and weapons used by Pakistan

Pakistan’s foreign minister has claimed that Chinese J-10C fighter jets were used to shoot down Indian aircraft along the border. Photo: Handout

Pakistan is the only known operator of J-10Cs outside China. Photo: AFP

The Pakistan Air Force has around 120 JF-17 jets in service. Photo: AFP

The missile has a range of more than 40km. Photo: Handout

The HQ-9 system has been in service in China since 2001. Photo: Handout

The howitzer can fire four to six rounds per minute, with a range up to 50km. Photo: Handout

The J-35 stealth fighter is widely seen as China’s answer to the American F-35. Photo: Xinhua

Opinion

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China

Military

The performance of the Chinese-made fighter jet in combat reveals a doctrinal shift in China’s military evolution


The performance of the Chinese-made fighter jet in combat reveals a doctrinal shift in China’s military evolution.


Pakistan

China's military weapons

Defence

India-Pakistan tensions

Australia

Africa

Middle East

India

Japan

South China Sea

United States

Xi Jinping

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


J-10C success in India-Pakistan clash testifies to China’s air superiority

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The performance of the Chinese-made fighter jet in combat reveals a doctrinal shift in China’s military evolution

The performance of the Chinese-made fighter jet in combat reveals a doctrinal shift in China’s military evolution