Tomahawk
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Let's not get ahead of ourselves. The Rafale with RBE2 would be able to to go toe-to-toe with the J-10C in the air-to-air regime while boasting greater payload capacity and a greater # of hardpoints. The upgraded Su-30MKI with AESA radars would be more than sufficient to handle the rest, including the Block IIIs.
The J-10C is indeed a significant upgrade for the PAF but keep in mind that the IAF has already been training and DACT-ing with a J-10C-class fighter - namely the Rafale - since summer of 2020. This is not to dismiss the fact that there are more Rafales in India than there are J-10Cs in Pakistan.
Since the utter humiliation of IAF after 27-Feb-2019, it is clearly evident that IAF lacks the resolve and more importantly the ability and will to respond to any strategic threat. When challenged IAF were in sheer disarray, started running, acts of fratricide, showing AMRAAM’s wreckage and so on.
Prior to this episode; our eastern theorists were telling to us that SU-30 MKI was only second to F-22 Raptor in terms of capability.
After being shot down and falling to ground at least they had realized the bitter truth that their SU-30s are not up to the mark and requires upgrade. Without being offensive to the Rafale’s capability soon these guys will realize that Rafale also needs upgrade. The proof of pudding is in the eating and battles are fought on the ground (in this case – air).
History shows IAF is their weakest arm and PAF is our strongest arm. After this victory PAF is not at all being complacent, they have a clear threat perception and complete understanding of ongoing developments. Timely induction of J-10C is just a testament of this.
One of the most important fact is that the flexibility which is attached to J-10C. All advancements in terms of electronics suite, radars capability and armament would be readily made available to PAF, unlike the long awaited and cumbersome issues attached with the upgrade of F-16s in the past.