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India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Israel in tension as this Middle East country gets ultra-modern fighter jets and missiles from global superpower, the countries are...
New Delhi: After Israel's fierce air strike, speculations started that Iran can now buy fighter jets from China. Meanwhile, a video is going viral on Chinese social media in which it is said that Iran has got 40 J-10C fighter jets from China. What does the Chinese video show? User Qin Lintao, who claimed to be from War Research Society, said that Iran has received the first batch of J-10C fighter jets from China. In this video, it has been claimed that the Chinese J-10C aircraft is equipped with PL-15 air to air missile, stealth technology, powerful radar and combat capabilities. This is the same J-10 aircraft that was used by the Pakistani Air Force against India's Rafale fighter jet. Why is Israel so much worried with this deal? Earlier, Israel had appealed to China to use its influence to stop Iran from increasing its military and nuclear power. Some time ago, Israel's Consul General in Shanghai Ravit Baier had said, 'China is the only country that has the ability to influence Iran. Iran can be ruined if China stops buying oil from it.' He said that China can put pressure on Iran. They have political power over Iran. Let us tell you that China buys 90 percent of Iran's oil. There is an agreement between the two for 25 years. In return, China will give Iran ultra-modern technology and weapons. What is the understanding between China and Iran? Even after this request of Israel, it is believed that China has given 4.5 generation J-10C fighter jet to Iran. Earlier, Iran was buying Sukhoi-35 fighter jet from Russia but this deal has been put on hold. Russia had offered Sukhoi-35 to Iran and asked for Iranian drones and missiles in return. Iran's Shahed-136 drones have become synonymous with the Ukraine war. The Russian army has wreaked havoc on Ukraine by attacking it with thousands of Iranian drones. It is believed that Iran has bought J-10C from China after the delay in getting Sukhoi-35 from Russia. However, Iran or China has not yet officially confirmed this. How is this deal beneficial for China? This move of China is now believed to provoke Israel, which is constantly threatening to attack Iran again. Earlier, Pakistan had claimed that it had attacked India's Rafale jet with the help of J-10 fighter jet and PL 15 missile. After this claim of Pakistan, China has now started selling it to the countries of the Middle East and Africa. China wants to capture the arms market by selling J-10C to anti-American countries. After this move of Iran, others in the Middle East may also move towards buying fighter jets from China.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
How Dhaka crash of F-7 jet spotlights risks from obsolete Chinese militaryware
Through the 100-hours-long stand-off between India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, several military aviation experts praised the performance of Chinese-built fighter jets like J10C and JF-17 used by the Pakistani Air Force (PAF). They were claimed to have scored well against fighter jets pitched by the Indian Air Force, including France's Rafale and Russian Su-30. It even led to a massive jump in the stocks of Chinese jet maker Avic Chengdu Aircraft Co Ltd, up by over 36 per cent in just two days of Operation the recent crash of an F-7BGI fighter jet, flown by the Bangladesh Air Force, has spotlighted how, despite incremental updates, China continues to export outdated, unreliable Soviet-era aircraft to developing countries, compromising safety and watchers claim this tragedy underscores the grave risks of relying on cheap but antiquated Chinese weaponry systems plagued by quality control failures, opacity and corruption, costing not only military lives but also innocent civilians far from any battlefield. Internal reports and anti-corruption probes in China have revealed rampant graft in defence procurement, including 'pay-for-promotion' schemes and compromised maintenance procedures, raising fears that exported platforms, like the F-7, are riddled with invisible risks. Despite global sales, Beijing rarely discloses incidents involving its military equipment, deepening mistrust among client July 21, a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into Dhaka's Milestone School and College, resulting in the death of 27 people—most of them children—and injuring over 170 others. The tragedy, reportedly caused by catastrophic mechanical failure moments after take-off from Kurmitola airbase, has thrown the nation into mourning and sparked public outrage. Despite the pilot's attempts to steer the failing jet away from densely populated areas, the aircraft slammed into the school, igniting a fire and causing widespread devastation. Hospitals treated dozens of victims for severe burns and trauma. Observers maintain that the F-7 BGI, a Chinese-made fighter jet, is derived from the 1960s-era Soviet MiG-21 and was exported to Bangladesh in the last decade as an affordable solution for air force modernisation. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, the F-7 BGI serves as a low-cost, multi-role fighter optimised for the Bangladesh Air Force. It features a double delta wing, modern avionics including multi-function displays and HUD, and carries short-range air-to-air missiles and guided acquired 16 units between 2011 and 2013 for fleet modernisation. The plane's top speed is Mach 2.2, with a payload capacity of up to 3,000 lbs. The F-7 BGI jet is the last and most advanced variant of China's Chengdu J-7/F-7 aircraft series, itself a licenced derivative of the Soviet-era MiG-21 design from the China has incrementally enhanced avionics and weapons systems, the platform remains fundamentally obsolete by modern military aviation standards. Purchased by Bangladesh in 2013 alongside 15 others, this fleet's operational use in routine training flights reveals the hazards of relying on outdated equipment in training environments close to civilian incident is not an isolated one. In June 2025, a Myanmar Air Force J-7 crashed in Pale township under mysterious circumstances, with speculation surrounding technical faults or possible enemy action. In 2022, a J-7 crashed into a residential block in Xiangyang, Hubei province, China, although the pilot successfully ejected before impact. Another incident occurred on June 10 when a Chinese air force Chengdu J-7 crashed into houses during a training mission in central China, killing one person on the ground and injuring two safety concerns surrounding F-7 fighter jets are not limited to China. A PAF F-7PG plane crashed during a routine training flight in 2020, resulting in the death of the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Muhammad Asim Nawaz. The Bangladesh Air Force has also experienced its share of accidents, including an F-7BG crash in 2018 that killed pilot Arif Ahmed Dipu, and an F-7MB that went missing over the Bay of Bengal in 2015, with the pilot never countries around the world operate Chinese fighter jets, showcasing China's growing influence in the global military aviation market. Pakistan is one of the largest operators, with a fleet of J-10C Vigorous Dragon and JF-17 Thunder multirole combat aircraft. The JF-17 is a China-Pakistan project, with Pakistan operating over 150 of these aircraft. The country has also received 20 J-10Cs, further bolstering its air force is another significant operator of Chinese fighter jets, with around 36 Chengdu J-7s, eight ageing Shenyang J-6s, and some Hongdu JL-8 jet trainers. Zambia has also acquired Chinese-made aircraft, including six Hongdu JL-10s and 10 Shenyang J-6s, which are part of its efforts to modernise its military with affordable and accessible is another country that relies heavily on Chinese fighter jets, operating Nanchang Q-5, Shenyang J-6, and Chengdu J-7 aircraft. North Korea also boasts a significant fleet of Chinese and Soviet-era fighter jets, including Shenyang J-6, Chengdu J-7, and Shenyang F-5 aircraft. Thailand has recently participated in joint exercises with China's air force, highlighting Beijing's expanding military activities in the region. Myanmar has also operated Chinese-made J-7 fighter jets, with one crashing under mysterious circumstances in June aviation experts pointed out that this incident underscores the dangerous dilemma faced by developing countries that turn to budget Chinese arms: the choice between affordability and modern safety is stark, and often the latter is sacrificed, with disastrous consequences. China's military industrial sector is also frequently criticised for its secrecy regarding technical problems and accident records, making it hard for buyers to properly assess the risks associated with their Bangladesh, after the jet tragedy, mass grief has quickly become anger, leading to demands for accountability from defence suppliers and calls to restrict military flights over populated areas. The government has vowed to launch a full investigation and review its procurement to India Today Magazine- Ends
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First Post
18-07-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase India struck during Op Sindoor still not operational, Notam extended
More than two months after India struck Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Operation Sindoor, the airbase continues to be out of operations. Pakistan has issued a Notam (notice to airmen) that the airbase remains closed as the runway remains unavailable for operations because of ongoing work. read more More than two months after India struck Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase in Operation Sindoor, it continues to remain out of operations. The Pakistan Aviation Authority (PAA) on Friday issued a Notam (notice to airmen) that the Rahim Yar Khan airbase will remain out of operations till August 5. This is the sixth Notam that Pakistan has issued since May 10 when India struck the airbase along with several other military sites. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As with previous Notams, the latest notice has also said that the runway is not available for operations due to work in progress — an apparent reference to reconstruction after Indian strikes. Pakistan's Rahim Yar Khan airbase is a dual-purpose facility. While the Pakistani Air Force has stationed fighter planes and drones at the base and uses it as a forward bases for operations against India, civilian flights operates from a full-fledged civilian airport called Shaikh Zayed International Airport. Both the air force and civilian planes use the same runway. During Operation Sindoor that India launched on the night of May 6-7, India struck several Pakistani military sites, including airbases, air defence units, and radar sites. India targeted military installations after Pakistan attacked India after India's initial strikes on May 6-7 night on terrorist sites in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK). The battering over four days forced Pakistan to request a ceasefire on May 10 — a request that India granted. ALSO READ: 20% of PAF assets destroyed, 50 soldiers killed: How Operation Sindoor is a huge body blow to Pakistan's military Satellite images in the aftermath of Indian strikes showed deep craters on the runway and extensive damage to buildings in the airbase. Understanding Pakistan's Notam for Rahim Yar Khan airbase Without going into the specifics, the Notam has said in its technical language that the airport's runway will remain out of operations till August 5. See the notification below. The Notam (notice to airmen) issued by Pakistan for the Rahim Yar Khan airbase on July 18, 2025. (Photo: Pakistan Aviation Authority) The 'OPRK' is the code for the Rahim Yar Khan Airport and 'QMRLC' refers to Notam's subject and status: 'QMR' meaning runway and 'LC' meaning it is closed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The '2507170540' refers to the start time of the Notam at July 17, 2025, at 05:40 am and '2508052359' refers to the estimated end time of the Notam at August 5, 2025 at 11:59 pm. The 'RWY NOT AVBL FOR FLT OPS DUE WIP' means that the runway is not available for flight operations due to work in progress. Therefore, in plain language, the technical notice reads as: The Rahim Khan Yar Airport is not available for flight operations from 5:40 am on July 17, 2025, to 11:59 pm on August 5 because the runway is not available as work is in progress at the runway.
The Independent
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
French intelligence: China used embassies to undermine sales of France's flagship Rafale fighter jet
China deployed its embassies to spread doubts about the performance of French-made Rafale jets after they saw combat in India and Pakistan 's clashes in May, French military and intelligence officials have concluded, implicating Beijing in an effort to hammer the reputation and sales of France 's flagship fighter. Findings from a French intelligence service seen by The Associated Press say defense attaches in China's foreign embassies led a charge to undermine Rafale sales, seeking to persuade countries that have already ordered the French-made fighter — notably Indonesia — not to buy more and to encourage other potential buyers to choose Chinese-made planes. The findings were shared with AP by a French military official on condition that the official and the intelligence service not be named. Four days of India-Pakistan clashes in May were the most serious confrontation in years between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, and included air combat that involved dozens of aircraft from both sides. Military officials and researchers have since been digging for details of how Pakistan's Chinese-made military hardware — particularly warplanes and air-combat missiles — fared against weaponry that India used in airstrikes on Pakistani targets, notably French-made Rafale fighters. Sales of Rafales and other armaments are big business for France's defense industry and help efforts by the government in Paris to strengthen ties with other nations, including in Asia where China is becoming the dominant regional power. France is fighting what it calls a disinformation campaign against the Rafale Pakistan claimed its air force downed five Indian planes during the fighting, including three Rafales. French officials say that prompted questions about their performance from countries that have bought the fighter from French manufacturer Dassault Aviation. India acknowledged aircraft losses but didn't say how many. French air force chief Gen. Jérôme Bellanger said that he's seen evidence pointing to just 3 Indian losses — a Rafale, a Russian-made Sukhoi and a Mirage 2000, which is an earlier generation French-made jet. It was the first known combat loss of a Rafale, which France has sold to eight countries. 'Of course, all those, the nations that bought Rafales, asked themselves questions,' Bellanger said. French officials have been battling to protect the plane from reputational damage, pushing back against what they allege was a concerted campaign of Rafale-bashing and disinformation online from Pakistan and its ally China. They say the campaign included viral posts on social media, manipulated imagery showing supposed Rafale debris, AI-generated content and video-game depictions to simulate supposed combat. More than 1,000 social media accounts newly created as the India-Pakistan clashes erupted also spread a narrative of Chinese technological superiority, according to French researchers who specialize in online disinformation. French military officials say they haven't been able to link the online Rafale-bashing directly to the Chinese government. Intelligence assessment says Chinese officials lobbied potential clients to ditch French planes But the French intelligence service said Chinese embassy defense attaches echoed the same narrative in meetings they held with security and defense officials from other countries, arguing that Indian Air Force Rafales performed poorly and promoting Chinese-made weaponry. The defense attaches focused their lobbying on countries that have ordered Rafales and other potential customer-nations that are considering purchases, the intelligence service said. It said French officials learned of the meetings from nations that were approached. Asked by AP to comment on the alleged effort to dent the Rafale's appeal, the Ministry of National Defense in Beijing said: 'The relevant claims are pure groundless rumors and slander. China has consistently maintained a prudent and responsible approach to military exports, playing a constructive role in regional and global peace and stability.' In recent years, China has stepped up disinformation campaigns on global social media platforms like X, Instagram or Facebook, using networks of state-sponsored influencers, sites that pose as news organizations, and fake social media accounts to spread narratives from Beijing. France's Defense Ministry said the Rafale was targeted by 'a vast campaign of disinformation" that 'sought to promote the superiority of alternative equipment, notably of Chinese design.' France considers the jet a 'strategic French offering' "The Rafale was not randomly targeted. It is a highly capable fighter jet, exported abroad and deployed in a high-visibility theater," the Defense Ministry wrote on its website. 'The Rafale was also targeted because it represents a strategic French offering. By attacking the aircraft, certain actors sought to undermine the credibility of France and its defense industrial and technological base. The disinformation campaign therefore did not merely target an aircraft, but more broadly a national image of strategic autonomy, industrial reliability, and solid partnerships.' Dassault Aviation has sold 533 Rafales, including 323 for export to Egypt, India, Qatar, Greece, Croatia, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia and Indonesia. Indonesia has ordered 42 planes and is considering buying more. China may be hoping to weaken the security relationships that France is building with Asian nations by spreading worries about the equipment it supplies, said Justin Bronk, an airpower specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, a defense and security think tank in London. 'From a point of view of limiting Western countries' influence in the Indo-Pacific, it would make sense for China to be using the performance of Pakistani weapon systems — or at least purported performance — in downing at least one Rafale as a tool to undermine its attractiveness as an export,' he said. 'They certainly saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region."
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Only Had 30 Seconds...': Pak PM's Advisor Reveals What Happened When India Fired BrahMos Missile
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's advisor, Rana Sanaullah, recently admitted that Islamabad had only 30 to 45 seconds to assess whether the BrahMos cruise missile fired by India during Operation Sindoor and headed toward the Nur Khan Airbase carried a nuclear warhead. Sanaullah said that even the slightest misunderstanding or misjudgment in those critical seconds could have triggered a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Nur Khan is a major Pakistani Air Force airbase situated in Rawalpindi's Chaklala. The airbase was among 11 such sites hit by Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor. The Indian Air Force had also struck Sargodha, Rafiqui, Jacobabad, and Murid airbases.#shehbazsharif #ranasanaullah #brahmos #operationsindoor #nurkhanairbase #nuclearwar #indiapakistan #nucleartensions #pakistanairforce #indianairforce #rawalpindi #missilecrisis #geopolitics #southasia #nuclearalert #airbases #strategicthreat #indiapakistannuclear #regionalconflict #defensealert #internationalrelations #toi #toibharat Read More
