In Caxemira, fighters with Chinese technology surpass Western weapons

The conflict between India and Pakistan, which in recent weeks has been alerting southern Asia again, has also become the first major test of fire in real combat for modern Chinese weapons systems.

In high-intensity air combat over the Caxemira region, the J-10C fighter, developed by China, was pointed out by several sources as responsible for the slaughter of up to three French Rafales fighters operated by the Indian Air Force.

Although the definitive results are under dispute, the episode lit a warning in Paris, Washington and New Delhi, marking what international analysts describe as a foreshadowing of technological and strategic disputes that should shape the balance of military power in Indo-Pacific and worldwide.

Clash in heaven: what said Pakistan, India and the allies

Tensions between the nuclear nations intensified after an attack in the Indian region of Pahalgam on April 22, which left 26 Indian civilians dead. India responded last Wednesday (7) with “Operation Sindoor”, a bombing against targets in Pakistani territory and in areas of Caxemira under Islamabad administration.

Pakistan, in turn, responded with J-10C fighters and said it had slaughtered five Indian aircraft: three Rafales, one Mig-29 and a SU-30.

The Indian government has not confirmed the losses, but verified images of wreckage and reports from CNN and Reuters, citing sources from the United States and French intelligence, indicate that at least one Rafale, made by the Frenchman Dassault Aviation, would have indeed been shot down.

This is the first record of a loss of this aircraft in combat, as well as the first confirmed slaughter in which the J-10C is winning. The intensity of the confrontation led the United States to mediate an immediate ceasefire, announced on Saturday (10) by President Donald Trump-although explosions and violations of the agreement were reported in the region in the following hours, according to local press reports.

The international press stressed that while it is still early to affirm the technical superiority of one side, events represented an unprecedented test for Chinese military systems against Western technology.

“At this time, we have seen that Chinese weapons – at least in the hands of Pakistan – seem to be very effective, even against highly advanced Western and Russian weapons. And there is no doubt that Chinese weapons have quickly become more sophisticated in the last two decades,” Siemon Wezeman of the International Institute for Peace Research of Stockholm (Sipri) said to South China Morning Post.

“However, to make an evaluation, much more data is needed – data that is not available. This is really the first time that advanced Chinese weapons […] They are used in a high intensity combat, ”he added.

A BBC He pointed out that the episode could influence the way other countries see the effectiveness of Chinese weaponry. The newspaper Business Insider He noted that the overthrow of the Rafales compromises confidence in the Indian Air Force operational capabilities, especially in a planned operation.

When a territorial dispute becomes global laboratory

The confrontation occurs in one of the most militarized regions in the world. Since the independence of the British Empire in 1947 – a process known as sharing – India and Pakistan have featured disputes for Caxemira territories. There were three declared wars and dozens of skirmishes, always under the shadow of the nuclear deterrent. Today, the region is also a point of intersection between the great global powers.

During the Cold War, Pakistan was one of the main military partners of the United States, as India was with the Soviets. During the following period, the country benefited from the American logistical and arms support, especially in the context of the war on terror.

The alliance began to dispose of the last decade when Washington began to question IslamaBad’s commitment to combat Taliban and express concern for the Pakistani nuclear program.

From 2014, the US practically suspended the sending of weapons to the country. In this vacuum, China emerged as a dominant supplier: between 2020 and 2024, 82% of Pakistan weapons imports came from Beijing.

India, in search of strategic autonomy and diversification of suppliers, has acquired equipment from France, Israel and the United States, as well as maintaining historical relations with Russia. New Delhi has also been courted by Washington as a counterpoint to Chinese influence in Asia.

In this context, the clash between J-10C and Rafale was more than a tactical confrontation: it became a field practice involving, on the one hand, the expanding Chinese military industry; on the other, the consolidated western defense system.

The vigorous dragon enters the scene

The J-10C, also known as “Vigorous Dragon”, is the latest version of the first entirely Chinese modern hunting project. Equipped with Aesa radar, electronic war systems and long-range PL-15 missiles, the plane was efficient in short and medium distance combat. The version acquired by Pakistan in 2022 costs about $ 76 million per unit.

In contrast, the French -made Rafale F3R costs approximately US $ 244 million, already considering weapons, training and maintenance. The Indian Air Force operates 36 units since 2020, with 26 more acquired in April this year, in a contract valued at US $ 7.4 billion.

Although the J-10C still uses Russian AL-31F engines, newer versions test WS-10 Chinese engines. Analysts consider that even less versatile than Rafale, the J-10C is lighter, cheaper and has modern systems that put it on an equal foot in various scenarios.

The effective participation of the Chinese model in the conflict made the actions of Chengdu Aircraft Corporation rise more than 40% on the Shenzhen stock market. Experts point out that the success of J-10C can boost China’s military exports, especially among Global Southern countries.

Dassault’s silence and the shadow of the F-35

The western response was marked by caution. Dassault Aviation did not publicly comment on loss reports, but its actions dropped 1.36% after the first reports confirming the slaughter. The US press, including CNN, Reuters and Washington Post, published almost simultaneously last Friday (9), reports citing pentagon sources confirmed the use of J-10C in the overthrow of at least two Indian aircraft, including rafale.

Some analysts have hypothesized that this negative coverage may interest Washington, who has been trying to sell F-35 to India for years.

However, although technically superior, the F-35 is significantly more expensive, it requires logistics and advanced maintenance infrastructure-which India does not yet have-and imposes restrictions on operational sovereignty: its maintenance depends on Washington-controlled parts and software, and its use is subject to approval of political updates and political agreements with the United States.

The choice of Rafale, therefore, reflected not only the lowest operating cost, but the strategic autonomy offered by the French fighter.

As pointed out the defense analyst Bilal Khan, co -founder of Quwa Defense News & Analysis Group, to the website Middle East EyeRafale allows India to operate and keep its systems without depending on external authorizations, something crucial for a country that seeks to reinforce its military sovereignty in an unstable region.

The possible replacement of long -term American rafales was seen as unlikely, but the exposure of French planes may have an impact on future international competition. Competition between F-35, Rafale and J-10C is officially open, with the global south observing.

From Himalayan to Indo-Pacific: who observes and why

The episode generated strong international repercussion. In addition to the immediate reflexes in the market, the J-10C performance was analyzed at military institutes in France, the United States, Japan and Taiwan. For many, the performance of the aircraft can offer clues about the balance of forces in any clashes in the Southern Sea of ​​China or the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing, in turn, observes with satisfaction the projection of his military industry. China has consolidated itself as the fourth largest weapon exporter in the world, with two thirds of its sales directed to Pakistan. With Russia worn by the war in Ukraine, Beijing aims at the previously dominated markets: Africa, Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Despite the positive results, experts ask for caution. Part of the Pakistani success may have come from efficient tactics or Indian errors. It is also unclear whether the Indian Air Force has underestimated the reach of the Chinese missiles PL-15 or faced restrictions on engagement rules.

As researcher Fabian Hoffman of the University of Oslo said, “it is not just the performance of aircraft, but how they are integrated into the doctrines, commands and operational capabilities of each country.”

Neither victory nor defeat: what is at stake now

It is still early to nail a definitive conclusion. But even in the absence of formal confirmation of Indian losses, the symbolic impact was immediate: Rafale, the flagship of French aviation, was hit. And the J-10C, manufactured by an emerging power, gained worldwide protagonism.

The Caixemira battlefield, which so often exposed local rivalries, has also been a stage of technological and diplomatic dispute. To the global south, China’s rise as a supplier of autonomous and efficient military systems is no longer promise: it is now a reality tested in combat.

While New Delhi, Beijing and Washington awaits the next steps, the world observes: The war of the future may have started in Himalayan.