On the evening of May 16th, fighter jets roared over the skies of Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. An F-16 transformed into an atmosphere group, breaking through the night sky in afterburner flight and firing flares to celebrate the victory of the military operation against India. The next day, the official account of the Pakistani government released this shocking footage on the social platform X, quickly drawing global attention. However, despite the dazzling appearance of the F-16, the true "star" of the Pakistani Air Force - the J-10CE fighter jet - stole the spotlight due to its outstanding performance in recent Indo-Pakistani conflicts. Why did the halo of the F-16 dim instantly? Let's find out.

Firstly, the J-10CE outperforms in every aspect.

As a third-generation half (4.5th generation) fighter jet with semi-stealth capability, the J-10CE is equipped with the KLJ-7A Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which has a detection range of about 260 kilometers, far exceeding the AN/APG-68(V)9 mechanical scanning radar of the F-16C/D Block 52 (about 120-150 kilometers). Its PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile has a range of 145-160 kilometers, surpassing the AIM-120C/D commonly used by the F-16 (about 100-120 kilometers), giving it the upper hand in beyond-visual-range combat. The canard configuration and advanced avionics system of the J-10CE further enhance maneuverability and situational awareness, allowing it to perform exceptionally well against India's Rafale fighters. In contrast, although Pakistan's F-16 fleet includes newer C/D Block 52 models, their technology is relatively outdated, and upgrading them is costly, making it difficult to match the comprehensive performance of the J-10CE.

According to the Pakistani military, during the Kashmir air battle in early May 2025, the J-10CE used PL-15E missiles to shoot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, at a distance of 150 kilometers, as well as downing one drone, achieving a stunning record of "6 to 0." In contrast, the F-16, restricted by strict U.S. limitations, was unable to participate in this air battle, highlighting its lack of operational flexibility. The J-10CE also defeated the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-15 in joint military exercises, and its dual performance in actual combat and drills has made it the new ace of the Pakistani Air Force.

The unit price of the J-10CE is approximately $60 million, lower than the $70-80 million for the F-16C/D Block 52, and its maintenance cost is also lower (approximately $10,000-$12,000 per flight hour). Chinese preferential policies and stable supply chains further reduce the total life cycle costs. More importantly, there are no usage restrictions on the J-10CE, allowing Pakistan to deploy it freely, while the F-16 is constrained by the U.S., limited to counter-terrorism missions within its territory and prohibited from being used for operations against India.

Pakistan Air Force owns around 75 F-16s, but the older A/B models and some C/D Block 52s are already struggling to cope with the threats posed by India's Rafales and Su-30MKIs. The U.S. embargo history on F-16 deliveries (such as the freeze in 1990) and recent restrictions on participating in combat have made Pakistan deeply aware of the risks of relying on U.S.-made weapons. This celebratory flight of the F-16 over Islamabad may have showcased the morale of the Pakistani Air Force, but it was more like a symbolic performance aimed at salvaging face, failing to conceal its marginalization trend in actual combat.

The introduction of the J-10CE not only addresses the shortfall in high-end air superiority capabilities of the Pakistani Air Force but also promotes the formation of a multi-layered combat system consisting of "J-10CE + JF-17 + F-16." The J-10CE focuses on high-end air superiority, the JF-17 handles multi-role tasks, while the F-16 retreats to homeland defense roles. Foreign media reports that Pakistan plans to increase its purchases of J-10CE to counter India's additional Rafale orders. The success of the J-10CE has also given Pakistan greater strategic initiative in South Asian military games.

Although the celebratory flight of the F-16 on May 16th lit up the night sky of Islamabad, the J-10CE, with its excellent performance, combat records, and strategic autonomy, has become the core pillar of the Pakistani Air Force. The halo of the F-16 has faded rapidly due to technological aging, U.S. restrictions, and high costs, relegating it to a supporting role. In the future, as more J-10CEs are deployed, the Pakistani Air Force will display stronger combat capabilities in South Asia, while the F-16 may only shine briefly in similar celebratory events.



Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7506462887272825380/

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