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.