A recent dogfight between Pakistani and Indian fighter jets is drawing intense scrutiny from militaries worldwide, eager to glean insights that could sharpen their own combat readiness in future conflicts.
According to two U.S. officials, a Chinese-made Pakistani J-10 fighter shot down at least two Indian military aircraft on Wednesday — a potential milestone for Beijing’s advanced military hardware.
This rare real-world air battle offers a valuable chance to study pilot tactics, jet performance, and the use of air-to-air missiles under combat conditions. Defense experts say militaries, especially in China, the U.S., and Europe, will carefully analyze what worked, what failed, and how these lessons could apply in theaters like Taiwan or the wider Indo-Pacific.
Chinese vs. Western Weapons
One U.S. official told Reuters, under anonymity, that Pakistan likely used Chinese J-10 jets equipped with PL-15 air-to-air missiles. Social media speculation quickly turned to how the Chinese PL-15 performed against the European-made Meteor missile carried by India’s French Rafale fighters, though no official confirmation has detailed which specific weapons were used.
“This is essentially China’s top air combat technology facing off against one of the West’s most capable systems — if indeed both were involved,” said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Both French and American defense circles will be eager to gather intelligence from the Indian side, he added.
A U.S. defense industry insider emphasized the importance of the Chinese PL-15, calling it a “serious concern” that the U.S. military monitors closely.
French jetmaker Dassault Aviation declined to comment, and European missile consortium MBDA could not be reached for comment, as the clash coincided with a French public holiday.
Many Unknowns Remain
While the confrontation has sparked global attention, key details are still missing. Analysts point out that it’s unclear whether the Meteor was deployed at all, or what level of pilot training factored into the outcome. Defense companies will also be eager to separate equipment performance from operational variables.
“There will definitely be assessments of what succeeded and what failed, but we must also account for the ‘fog of war,’” said Byron Callan, a Washington-based defense expert.
Callan noted that U.S. arms manufacturers regularly receive battlefield feedback from the Ukraine war — and similar exchanges are expected between India’s European suppliers and between Pakistan and China. “If the PL-15 is performing better than expected, the Chinese will want to know.”
Technical Race Intensifies
Western defense sources have debated whether Pakistan’s PL-15 missiles are export versions, which reportedly have a shorter range than the Chinese domestic variant. While some claim the PL-15 outranges the Meteor, Western insiders are cautious, noting that little is publicly known about either missile’s true capabilities.
China’s development of the PL-15 marked a leap beyond its older, Soviet-inspired technology, prompting the U.S. to accelerate work on the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, designed by Lockheed Martin, to match China’s beyond-visual-range advances.
Meanwhile, European nations are looking into a mid-life upgrade for the Meteor missile, potentially enhancing its propulsion and guidance, though progress has reportedly been slow.
Earlier, under President Donald Trump, the U.S. awarded Boeing a contract to develop its next-generation fighter jet — promising stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines — to stay ahead in the global arms race.
