This revelation came through an interview broadcast by Chinese state media CCTV, where an engineer involved in assisting Pakistan’s air force discussed his experiences during active combat.
CCTV spoke with Zhang Heng, an engineer from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China’s Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, renowned for developing advanced Chinese fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Zhang shared that he was part of a team providing technical support to Pakistan throughout the confrontation in May of the previous year. The Pakistan Air Force operates Chinese-produced J-10CE fighter jets from an AVIC subsidiary.
Describing conditions at the support base, Zhang noted that the team often heard fighter jets taking off amid persistent air-raid sirens, as reported by the South China Morning Post, citing CCTV.
He reminisced about temperatures nearing 50 degrees Celsius and characterized the experience as both mentally and physically demanding.
“At the support base, we consistently heard the roar of fighter jets and the unending sound of air-raid sirens. By late morning in May, temperatures were already about 50 degrees Celsius [122 degrees Fahrenheit]. It was a true challenge for us, mentally and physically,” he stated during the interview.
Despite the extreme conditions, he emphasized that the team remained dedicated to ensuring the equipment could “truly operate at its maximum combat potential”.
“This was not only a recognition of the J-10CE; it also reflected the strong bond we formed by working closely together, day after day,” Zhang conveyed to CCTV.
Another team member from the Chengdu Aircraft Design and Research Institute, Xu Da, likened the fighter jets to a ‘child’ they had raised before handing it over. “We nurtured it, cared for it, and ultimately handed it to the user. Now, it was facing a significant test,” he remarked.
“Regarding the exceptional performance of the J-10CE, we were not particularly surprised; it didn’t feel sudden at all. It seemed inevitable. The aircraft just needed the right moment, and when that opportunity arose, it performed exactly as we expected,” Xu added.
This disclosure follows months after Indian military officials claimed that China actively supported Pakistan during the conflict. At a seminar organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry last July, Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh asserted that China utilized its satellite network to monitor Indian troop movements during the skirmish.
He indicated that Pakistan’s military was receiving real-time intel even during DGMO (Director General of Military Operations) discussions.
He likened China’s strategy during Operation Sindoor to the ancient Chinese military concept of the ‘36 stratagems’, specifically the tactic of using a ‘borrowed knife’ to defeat an adversary. He proposed that Beijing had provided extensive support to Pakistan to strategically pressure India without direct involvement in the conflict.
Simultaneously, Chinese officials and social media channels amplified Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian fighter jets, presenting it as proof of the superiority of Chinese military technology. However, no solid evidence was presented to substantiate Islamabad’s claims.
Officials largely refrained from commenting on reports indicating that Pakistan experienced significant collateral losses during the conflict. Recent media allegations have additionally suggested that China is contemplating the sale of its stealth J-35 fighter jets to Pakistan.
The J-10CE represents the export version of the J-10C 4.5-generation fighter jet and is considered the most advanced variant in the J-10 series. Pakistan remains the only confirmed foreign operator of the J-10Cs outside China, having signed a deal in 2020 to procure 36 fighter jets along with approximately 250 PL-15 missiles.
