Pakistan has signaled its intent to acquire China’s fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, the FC-31 “Gyrfalcon.” This acquisition is expected to significantly enhance the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) capabilities, providing it with a technological advantage over its primary adversary, India, for the foreseeable future. According to military experts and officials, the addition of the FC-31 could shift the aerial power dynamics in South Asia, a region already marked by its long-standing rivalries.
Retired Air Commodore Zia Ul Haque Shamshi, a seasoned officer of the Pakistan Air Force, has emphasized the strategic significance of the acquisition, stating, “The FC-31 will give Pakistan a strategic advantage over the Indian Air Force (IAF) for the next 12 to 14 years. India is not expected to obtain fifth-generation fighter capabilities within that period, which will grant Pakistan a significant strategic upper hand.”
This assertion highlights the potential for Pakistan to dominate the aerial landscape in South Asia, at least in the short to medium term. India’s fighter jets, including the Su-30MKI and the recently acquired Rafale, are considered advanced 4.5-generation aircraft, but they fall short of the capabilities offered by fifth-generation stealth fighters like the FC-31. The fifth-generation classification denotes a series of advanced features, such as stealth technology, superior avionics, enhanced sensors, and multirole capabilities that make these aircraft more versatile and harder to detect by radar.
Earlier this year, reports surfaced indicating that the Pakistan Air Force was eyeing the acquisition of the FC-31. Developed by China’s Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the FC-31 is seen as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive Western fighters, while still offering comparable technological advancements. The PAF, which has historically relied on American and French fighter jets, has increasingly shifted its focus towards Chinese technology as a result of deepening defense cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing.
PAF Chief of Staff, Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, hinted at this growing relationship last year when he mentioned that the FC-31 would soon become part of Pakistan’s air fleet. “Negotiations have already taken place to facilitate the acquisition of the FC-31, which will soon become a part of the Pakistan Air Force,” Sidhu stated at a defense event, suggesting that the deal was progressing swiftly.
Recent media reports have further fueled these speculations, indicating that a group of Pakistani pilots has already been dispatched to China for training on the FC-31 platform. This development, if confirmed, would mark a significant milestone in Pakistan’s journey toward acquiring fifth-generation fighter jets, and signals that the country is preparing to operate the aircraft in the near future.
For Pakistan, the FC-31 represents not only a leap in technology but also a solution to a growing problem: the aging state of its current fighter fleet. The PAF’s inventory still includes American-made F-16s and French-made Mirage 5 jets, which, while still operational, are considered outdated when compared to more modern aircraft being deployed by rival air forces.
Analysts believe that Pakistan’s decision to pursue the FC-31 is partly motivated by the need to replace these older jets. The F-16, once the backbone of the PAF’s fleet, has been in service for decades, and Pakistan has faced difficulties in acquiring upgrades and spare parts due to fluctuating diplomatic relations with the United States. Similarly, the Mirage 5 jets, which have been in service since the 1960s, are no longer capable of keeping pace with modern threats.
The addition of the FC-31, therefore, serves as both a modernization effort and a strategic deterrent. With its stealth capabilities, advanced sensors, and multirole functionality, the FC-31 is designed to perform a wide array of combat missions, from air superiority to ground attack, all while evading enemy radar systems.
India, which has long been concerned about China’s growing military influence in the region, now faces the possibility of confronting fifth-generation fighters on two fronts. China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) already operates the J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” China’s first fifth-generation stealth fighter, and now Pakistan is on the verge of acquiring the FC-31, another highly capable stealth aircraft.
While India’s recent acquisition of 36 Rafale jets from France has bolstered its aerial combat capabilities, the Rafale is still classified as a 4.5-generation aircraft. Although it boasts advanced avionics and weapon systems, it lacks the stealth features that define fifth-generation fighters. Similarly, India’s domestically developed Tejas fighter jet and its fleet of Russian-made Su-30MKIs are formidable, but neither aircraft possesses the level of technological sophistication found in the FC-31 or J-20.
India has been working on its own fifth-generation fighter jet, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), but this project is still in development and not expected to be completed until the late 2030s. In the meantime, India will have to rely on its current 4.5-generation fighters to maintain air superiority in a region where both its main adversaries—China and Pakistan—are moving ahead with more advanced platforms.
The FC-31 is the second fifth-generation stealth fighter developed by China, after the J-20. The aircraft is a single-seat, twin-engine, medium-sized fighter with advanced stealth technology, making it difficult to detect by enemy radar. While specific technical details about the FC-31 remain closely guarded, some specifications have been released to the public. The fighter’s Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) has reportedly increased from 25,000 kg to 28,000 kg, and it is powered by WS-19 engines, each generating 12 tons of thrust.
The FC-31 features two internal weapon bays, each capable of carrying two medium-range air-to-air missiles. It also has hardpoints for a variety of bombs and missiles, enabling it to conduct both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. This versatility makes the FC-31 a multirole fighter capable of handling a range of combat scenarios, from dogfights to precision strikes.
China has not yet officially designated the FC-31 for export, but reports suggest that Beijing is actively promoting the jet to potential international buyers. Pakistan is likely to be one of the first countries to operate the FC-31, given its close defense ties with China and its urgent need to modernize its air fleet. Other potential buyers could include nations seeking to acquire fifth-generation capabilities without the high price tag associated with Western jets like the F-35.
However, China has restricted the export of its more advanced J-20 “Mighty Dragon” fighter, likely out of concerns that sensitive technologies could fall into enemy hands. This policy mirrors that of the United States, which has limited the sale of its F-22 Raptor—the world’s first fifth-generation fighter—to foreign countries.
The impending acquisition of the FC-31 by Pakistan has raised alarms in New Delhi. For years, India has been accustomed to holding a qualitative edge over the PAF, but the introduction of fifth-generation stealth technology into Pakistan’s arsenal could erode that advantage. The prospect of Pakistan fielding the FC-31, combined with China’s already operational J-20, means that India could soon find itself outmatched in the air by two neighboring countries.
This situation has led to calls within India for the government to accelerate its own fifth-generation fighter program and to explore additional purchases of advanced fighters from Western allies. India is already a partner in the development of Russia’s Su-57 fifth-generation fighter, but delays and budget constraints have slowed progress on that front.
For Pakistan, the acquisition of the FC-31 represents a major step forward in its defense modernization efforts. The PAF has long sought to close the gap with the IAF, and the FC-31 could provide the capability to do so. However, the costs associated with operating and maintaining such advanced aircraft will likely be a challenge, particularly given Pakistan’s economic constraints.
The decision by Pakistan to acquire China’s FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” fifth-generation fighter jet signals a new phase in the long-standing rivalry between India and Pakistan. With both China and Pakistan moving toward greater aerial dominance, India faces the challenge of maintaining its own edge in a rapidly evolving military landscape. The FC-31, with its stealth capabilities and advanced technology, has the potential to shift the balance of power in the skies over South Asia for years to come.
As Pakistan prepares to integrate the FC-31 into its air force, the broader implications for regional security are clear. The ongoing arms race in South Asia is set to intensify, with all three major powers—India, Pakistan, and China—competing for air superiority in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
