Pakistan claims Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets used against India’s air force
If involvement in downing of five Indian aircraft is confirmed, it would be the J-10C’s first known air-to-air kill recorded in live combat
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country’s military said five Indian aircraft had been shot down in the latest armed conflict over Kashmir and other disputed regions along the South Asian neighbours’ border.
India has yet to comment on the claim.
Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, separately told parliament that J-10C jets shot down the Indian warplanes, with the five including three Rafale fighter jets.
“Our jet fighters … shot down Indian Rafales, three Rafales [that] are French,” Dar said. “Ours were J-10C. All of these are jet fighters in collaboration with China.”
If confirmed, it would be the Chinese fighter jet’s first known air-to-air kill recorded in live combat. It would also mark the first loss of Rafale aircraft in combat.