Chinese J-10C Fighter pilot out smarts Hostile Aircraft in Border Engagements

Defence affairs - Def-Geopolitics

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force J-10C lightweight fighter has engaged an aircraft from an unnamed foreign country, after being locked onto by the aircraft’s radar.

Shi Luquan, a pilot from an aviation brigade under the PLA Air Force Central Theatre Command, is reported to have quickly responded to radar illumination, recalling: "This is a kind of provocation. If he were friendly, he wouldn't turn on the radar. This is our own territory—why should I turn away? When the distance closed further and the radar warning disappeared, I immediately switched my radar to standby mode.” Although reports of Chinese fighters’ engagements with hostile military aircraft have grown in recent years, the involvement of the J-10C has been less common.  

Commenting on the engagement, Chinese defence expert Fu Qianshao observed that the J-10’s ability to successfully counter radar illumination and regain tactical initiative reflects the benefits of years of incremental modernisation of the fighter’s capabilities. He noted that compared with earlier J-10 variants, the J-10C has achieved key technological breakthroughs in radar systems and detection methods, providing important advantages in electromagnetic confrontation and aerial tactical engagements, and providing pilots with strong technical confidence in responding to foreign provocations. The pilot highlighted that the replacement of the original J-10’s pulse-Doppler radar system with a modern active electronically scanned array radar, and the integration of an infrared search and track system, has significantly enhanced its detection capabilities and the means in which it can be operated. 

The report on the latest engagement closely follows the deployment of multiple J-10C fighter units to conduct high-intensity drills under complex electromagnetic conditions, which highlighted their ability to integrate operations closely with KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) systems. Compensating for the small size of the J-10’s radar, the KJ-500 can detect aerial targets, including aircraft and missiles, hundreds of kilometres away, and relay their position, speed, and altitude to fighters via data links, allowing for more effective intercept manoeuvres without J-10s emitting their own radar signatures. In early August 2025, the J-10C demonstrated the capability to engage targets with cutting edge stealth capabilities when operating with KJ-500 support, relying on the AEW&C system to guide missiles to its targets using its much more powerful sensors.