Islamabad has now completely turned to Beijing to compensate for the deep damage caused to Pakistan’s defense and infrastructure by ‘Operation Sindoor’ conducted by the Indian Army last year. To regain its lost power in the sky and to avoid the Indian Air Force, Pakistan is now purchasing the state-of-the-art ‘Shaanxi KJ-500’ Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) from China.
Pakistan’s air defense was destroyed overnight
. After the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir in April last year, India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ on nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan in a strong attack on the night of 7 May 2025. After this, in August 2025, Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh had clarified that six Pakistani aircraft were shot down in this military action. These included five fighter aircraft and one ‘Saab Erieye-2000’ AWACS. Canadian media platform Eurasian Times report and quoting former Pakistani Air Force Air Marshal Masood Akhtar also revealed that Indian missile attacks on Bholari airbase had destroyed another Pakistani AWACS aircraft. This attack had completely paralyzed four radar systems, two command centers and runways of Pakistan, which Pakistan has not been able to officially confirm till date.
Islamabad in the shelter of the dragon
In a hurry to rebuild its collapsed air defense system, Pakistan had started talks with China for a new defense system in June 2025 itself. From a strategic and commercial point of view, this deal is a part of a very expensive and big defense package being given by China to Pakistan. This deal includes not only Shanxi KJ-500 aircraft, but also advanced air defense systems like J-35A fighter aircraft and HQ-19. Through this huge investment, Pakistan wants to develop its Air Force into ‘network-based warfare capability’, so that all its radars and defense systems can work together.
Shanxi KJ-500, Pakistan’s new ‘eye’ in the sky
Talking on the technical front, Shanxi KJ-500 is a very powerful radar system flying in the sky. It is capable of accurately detecting and tracking enemy fighter planes, missiles and drones from long distances. With the inclusion of this aircraft in the Pakistani fleet, it will get much earlier warning of any air attack.