Pakistan is moving forward with the acquisition of China’s next-generation FC-31 stealth fighter jets, signaling a major leap in its aerial defense capabilities following heightened military tensions with India in May.
A senior government official told Janes, a UK-based defence intelligence outlet, that the delivery of the fifth-generation aircraft will begin in the coming months. Pilots from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) are currently in China undergoing training to operate the jets.
However, key details such as the total cost of the procurement and the timeline of the agreement have not been publicly disclosed.
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According to a separate confirmation made in May, the FC-31s destined for Pakistan will be armed with China’s PL-17 air-to-air missiles. These advanced missiles are believed to have a range of up to 400 kilometers, offering a significant edge in long-range aerial combat and improving Pakistan’s beyond-visual-range (BVR) strike capabilities.
Although an official figure has not been shared, earlier reports from Janes suggested Pakistan was in talks to purchase between 30 and 40 units of the FC-31, also known as the ‘Gyrfalcon.’
This deal marks Pakistan’s first major defence procurement from China since the recent Pakistan-India conflict in early May. The brief but intense exchange involved airspace violations and retaliatory airstrikes, during which several Indian aircraft were reportedly shot down by the PAF.
International outlets, including Reuters, reported on the incident, while Indian military leadership later acknowledged aircraft losses—supporting Pakistan’s claims of a successful defence.
