Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India?
Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India?
Pakistan has started inducting China's FC-31 stealth jet into its air force. It is equipped with PL-17 missile with Mach 1.8 speed and 400 km range. This is a threat to India because IAF has less squadrons and India is competing with it with Rafale, Tejas and S-400.
Pakistan has started inducting China's Shenyang FC-31 'Gyrofalcon' stealth fighter jet to strengthen its air force. This fifth generation stealth jet, also known as J-35, is the strategy of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to counter India's growing air power. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently facing a shortage of squadrons as it is preparing its indigenous AMCA jet by 2035.
The FC-31 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet built by China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. This jet is designed to compete with the US F-35 and China's J-20. Although it is not as advanced as the J-20, it has many special features like speed of Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h), range of 1,200 km (1,900 km with mid-air refueling).
It is also equipped with PL-17 missile (400 km range), which can attack from a distance without evading radar. It can lift maximum weight of 28,000 kg.
The delivery of FC-31 will begin in a few months. Pakistan can buy 30-36 jets, which will arrive in batches of 6 each in the next 12-18 months. This jet is much
This move by Pakistan has come after the India-Pakistan conflict (Operation Sindoor) in May 2025. In this conflict, India destroyed 6 fighter jets, 2 AWACS, 1 C-130 transport and several drones and missiles of PAF with Brahmos-A missiles. Pakistan's HQ-9 (China-made) air defense system could not stop India's fast and low-flying missiles. Pakistan wants to reduce this gap by deploying FC-31.
Threat to India?
IAF has 31 squadrons, while the requirement is 42. AMCA will be ready by 2035, meaning Pakistan can get a lead of 7-14 years. India has 36 Rafales, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, and LCA Tejas, but these are 4.5 generation jets.
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The objective was clear: dismantle the terror infrastructure and deliver a crippling blow to Pakistan's military capabilities. The initial phase of the operation witnessed a tactical recalibration. Facing unexpected resistance, the IAF swiftly adapted its strategy, emphasising electronic warfare and precision targeting. This adaptability was evident as the IAF jammed Pakistan's Chinese-supplied air defense systems within 23 minutes, paving the way for unhindered aerial assaults. Decimation of Pakistani Air Assets 1. Fighter Jets Shot Down Six Pakistani fighter jets were destroyed: three JF-17 Thunders, two Mirage III/V variants, and one F-16 Block 52. These were eliminated via BVR missile engagements and stand-off munitions strikes near Jacobabad, Rahim Yar Khan, and Sargodha. This loss devastated Pakistan's QRA network. Two airborne surveillance aircraft—Saab 2000 Erieye and ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle—were destroyed. The former was downed from 314 km using India's S-400 system, while the latter was destroyed in a strike on Bholari Airbase. These kills blinded the PAF during the operation's peak. 3. C-130 Hercules and Special Forces Hit A C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, with elite personnel on board, was destroyed at Nur Khan Airbase via a BrahMos NG missile strike. The kill disrupted logistics and morale. 4. Drones and UCAVs Neutralized Over 15 Pakistani UCAVs, including Chinese Wing Loong drones, were destroyed in airspace interceptions and base attacks. India's Akashteer and SAMAR systems achieved 100 per cent success rate during the campaign. Precision Strikes on Pakistan's Strategic Airbases 1. Nur Khan Airbase (Chaklala) This airbase, located near Rawalpindi and used frequently for both strategic airlift and VIP movement, is one of Pakistan's most high-profile installations. It houses C-130 Hercules aircraft, the PAF's Special Services Wing (SSW), and at times, acts as a backup command center for Air Headquarters. The IAF targeted Nur Khan with a mix of loitering munitions and BrahMos NG missiles. One C-130 Hercules was destroyed during active loading operations. The aircraft was reportedly preparing for a special forces' deployment. The strike also resulted in the death of 12 personnel, including elite aircrew and logistics officers. Adjacent hangars were engulfed in flames, with satellite images revealing significant structural damage and debris fields. Strategic Impact: Loss of a heavy-lift transport aircraft during operational tempo drastically reduced Pakistan's ability to reposition personnel and emergency supplies. The symbolic value of striking Nur Khan—so close to Islamabad—was immense. 2. Bholari Airbase Located in Sindh, Bholari is relatively new but highly strategic. It houses AEW&C aircraft, such as the ZDK-03 Karakoram Eagle, and supports eastern sector radar coverage. India's strikes on Bholari were surgical. A ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft was destroyed in its hardened shelter. Loitering drones confirmed the aircraft's static status before destruction. A secondary blast caused the loss of a control container, believed to be the mobile command module for air surveillance. Strategic Impact: The destruction of an AWACS platform here meant Pakistan was flying blind in its southern and eastern air sectors for at least 72 hours. The psychological impact on sortie planning and interdiction response was severe. 3. Sargodha Airbase This base is the headquarters of PAF's Central Air Command and houses one of its primary F-16 squadrons. Indian missiles—likely Sudarshan-armed BrahMos variants—struck multiple hardened aircraft shelters. One F-16 was destroyed, and several others were damaged as hangars collapsed. The base's main runway was cratered, grounding air operations for nearly 48 hours. Communications from the base went offline temporarily, suggesting damage to underground fiberoptic nodes or satellite uplinks. Strategic Impact: Disabling the hub of PAF's air superiority capability mid-conflict represented a tactical masterstroke. It delayed all command-level decisions and turned the Sargodha-led air defence network into an observer, not a responder. 4. Jacobabad Airbase Used primarily for drone operations and hosting ground-attack aircraft, Jacobabad is a second-tier base that evolved into a critical UCAV hub. India employed swarm drones with AI-assisted target recognition. Destruction of at least 4 Shahpar-II drones and 2 ground control stations was confirmed. A mobile jamming vehicle was destroyed, which had been employed to counter Indian ISR drones. Strategic Impact: The loss of ground control and tactical ISR support disrupted Pakistan's ability to surveil Indian strike formations. It also nullified any plan for drone counterattacks or offensive launches from this region. 5. Sukkur Airbase Sukkur is not a front-line airbase but plays a pivotal logistical role, particularly in aircraft refueling, repair, and emergency landings. India's guided bomb attacks focused on aviation fuel farms and mechanical support infrastructure. Runways were not cratered—suggesting India wanted to retain it as a post-conflict emergency strip—but repair sheds and fuel trucks were wiped out. Strategic Impact: The intent was clear—deny Pakistan long-range operational sustainability by cutting off supply and recovery chains. Sukkur's loss pushed refueling cycles to Multan and Rahim Yar Khan, increasing turnaround times. 6. Rahim Yar Khan Airbase An older but still functional base, Rahim Yar Khan stored Mirage III/V aircraft and was suspected to be housing precision munitions. SPICE 2000 bombs were used to destroy two Mirage aircraft in shelters. An ammunition truck nearby exploded, creating a domino effect that damaged additional support infrastructure. The base was rendered non-functional for 48–60 hours due to runway damage and fires. Strategic Impact: This strike served dual purposes: eliminating a legacy strike asset (the Mirages) and targeting stored high-value munitions to prevent reprisal attacks. 7. Shahbaz Airbase Although not a major strategic target, Shahbaz was hit in a diversionary attack. Decoy drones and long-range artillery pinned down local SAM systems and distracted early warning systems from the real action happening across the other bases. Radar exposure patterns revealed Pakistani AD radars went into full-track mode here for almost 14 minutes. This diversion allowed the IAF to conduct cleaner, unchallenged strikes on Bholari and Sargodha. Strategic Impact: This was a classical suppression tactic—confuse, decoy, and overwhelm. Shahbaz's use as a bait zone amplified the success rates of other concurrent missions. A Doctrinal Shift India's airbase-focused strikes during Operation Sindoor weren't random retaliatory actions—they were high-order military planning in motion. Each base was selected based on: Operational role in Pakistan's air defense structure Proximity to command centers Potential to host high-value assets The timing of the strikes—across 10 bases in just over 22 minutes—was designed to paralyse PAF's capacity to assess, react, and recover. Three of these airbases—Nur Khan, Bholari, and Sargodha—held disproportionate value to Pakistan's combat air doctrine. Their temporary neutralisation essentially collapsed centralised coordination. 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Within 88 hours, the scale of destruction compelled Pakistan to seek a ceasefire, highlighting the operation's efficacy in achieving its strategic objectives. International Air Doctrine Comparison Operation Sindoor represents a shift in India's strategic posture—toward preemptive deterrence and precision warfare. In contrast, NATO doctrines emphasise layered suppression and network-centric warfare. Israel's doctrine of preemption (e.g., Operation Outside the Box) mirrors Sindoor's surprise precision strikes. China follows a doctrine of strategic depth and airspace denial, while the U.S. focuses on full-spectrum dominance leveraging stealth, satellite ISR, and multi-domain fusion. India's Sudarshan-led approach (S-400, Akashteer, and indigenous UAVs) now places it closer to the most sophisticated doctrines globally. Conclusion top videos View all The aerial attrition inflicted during Operation Sindoor wasn't merely a tactical victory—it was a doctrinal pivot. The destruction of Pakistan's AEW&C fleet, frontline jets, and ISR drones within 88 hours, without IAF losses, marked a new benchmark for regional power assertion. For Pakistan, the damage was deep; for India, the message was clear: preparedness has evolved into preeminence. The writer is a retired officer of the IRS and the former director-general of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod VSM (Retd) Group Capt MJ Augustine Vinod VSM (retd) tweets at @mjavinod tags : Operation Sindoor Pahalgam attack pakistan Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 07, 2025, 13:23 IST News opinion Opinion | Operation Sindoor And The Collapse Of Pakistani Air Power
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