South Asia’s aerial balance, Pakistan is reportedly on the cusp of inducting China’s fifth-generation Shenyang FC-31 “Gyrfalcon” stealth fighters into its air fleet. This anticipated development follows close on the heels of a four-day aerial conflict between India and Pakistan in early May 2025 — a clash that, while brief, has left strategic aftershocks rippling across the region.
According to a senior official quoted by Janes Defence Weekly, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) pilots are currently undergoing advanced training in China in preparation for the arrival of the FC-31s, which is expected to begin within months. Though the details remain opaque, including the number of aircraft and the exact timeline, Islamabad’s ambitions signal a bold leap into the era of fifth-generation stealth warfare — and an implicit acknowledgment of the lessons learned from the recent aerial confrontation with India.
Between May 7 and May 10, 2025, India and Pakistan engaged in one of the most intense air clashes since their 2019 Balakot exchange. Indian media reports claim that the Indian Air Force (IAF) destroyed six Pakistani fighter jets, two high-value airborne surveillance aircraft, one C-130 transport, several unmanned drones, and over 30 missiles during the operation dubbed “Sindoor”. While Pakistan disputes the scale of these losses, multiple satellite images and independent OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) investigations lend credence to Indian claims of significant attrition in Pakistan’s aerial assets.
In this context, the induction of the FC-31 is more than a routine procurement — it is an emergency recalibration of Pakistan’s aerial doctrine.
Developed by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) under the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the FC-31 is a fifth-generation multirole fighter that boasts a suite of stealth features. These include a low-observable airframe design, internal weapons bays, and composite materials that reduce radar cross-section (RCS). Originally unveiled at the 2024 Zhuhai Air Show as the J-35A (its domestic variant), the aircraft is widely seen as China’s response to the American F-35 and Russia’s Su-57.
Equipped with WS-19 engines generating approximately 12 tons of thrust, the FC-31 offers twin-engine reliability, supersonic speed, and agility. Two internal bays can house medium-range air-to-air missiles, complemented by external hardpoints for ground-attack weaponry. The fighter’s AESA radar, sensor fusion capabilities, and low observability make it suitable for deep-strike missions and aerial superiority roles.
Importantly, Pakistani officials have confirmed that the FC-31 will be integrated with the PL-17 air-to-air missile, which boasts a staggering range of up to 400 kilometers — making it one of the longest-range AAMs currently fielded globally.
Pakistan’s relationship with Chinese defense manufacturers has only deepened over the last two decades. As the largest foreign operator of Chinese-origin military hardware, Islamabad’s trust in Beijing’s systems was evident when the PAF inducted the J-10CE fighters in 2022. These were extensively used in the May 2025 conflict with India, where Pakistani sources claimed that three Indian Rafales were downed using PL-15E long-range missiles.
Though unverified, such claims have bolstered domestic support for expanding reliance on Chinese platforms.
“Given the successful performance of the J-10CE in a real-world combat scenario, Pakistan’s leap to fifth-generation stealth aircraft from the same supplier is a logical evolution,” noted Dr. Amir Mirza, a military analyst at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). “The FC-31 represents not just hardware, but a strategic partnership.”
In December 2024, reports emerged that Pakistan had signed a deal to acquire up to 40 J-35A/FC-31 aircraft, with deliveries expected to begin in late 2025 and continue over a two-year timeline. Though both Chinese and Pakistani officials have remained silent on the specifics, senior diplomatic visits and leaked logistics agreements during Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Beijing in May 2025 suggest that the acquisition has moved beyond planning and into execution.
China’s willingness to supply Pakistan with advanced fifth-generation fighters reveals not only a growing military-industrial alignment but also a wider strategic calculus.
Beijing has its own friction points with New Delhi, especially along the Himalayan border. Supplying Pakistan with stealth aircraft — and fast-tracking the process — effectively places additional pressure on India, dividing its strategic attention across both western and northern fronts.
Furthermore, with China already operating over 200 J-20 Mighty Dragons, and working on sixth-generation platforms like the J-36 and J-50, exporting the FC-31 enables Beijing to consolidate influence while field-testing its aerospace innovations in allied forces.
India, for its part, has long aspired to enter the stealth fighter club through its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. Slated to roll out its first prototype by 2028, the AMCA is projected to feature indigenous AESA radar, supercruise capability, and advanced stealth shaping.
However, experts warn that the program is already running behind schedule.
“If Pakistan begins inducting the FC-31 this year, India may be facing a five to seven-year capability gap in fifth-generation air combat,” explained Air Marshal (Retd.) Anil Chopra, Director General at the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS) in New Delhi. “In that period, China will widen its lead with the J-20 and sixth-gen fighters, while Pakistan could field at least two squadrons of FC-31s. This gap cannot be ignored.”
Some members of India’s defense establishment argue for a stopgap solution, such as the acquisition of Russia’s Su-57 — the only fifth-generation fighter currently exported by Moscow. Though earlier rejected on cost and performance concerns, the urgency of the moment is prompting a reconsideration.
“There’s logic in acquiring the Su-57 or at least partnering in production until the AMCA becomes operational,” noted Commodore (Retd.) Uday Bhaskar, a defense strategist. “At stake is India’s ability to deter or dominate in its air domain.”
Stealth aircraft alter the strategic landscape by degrading enemy radar coverage and air defense effectiveness. Former IAF Squadron Leader Vijainder K. Thakur explains:
“Air defense systems struggle with stealth targets due to their reduced radar cross-section. Even if stealth shaping isn’t as advanced as the F-35, it significantly lowers detection range. Add long-range AAMs like the PL-17, and it’s a very dangerous combination.”
Pakistan’s doctrine has traditionally focused on asymmetric parity — using stand-off weapons, tactical nukes, and rapid-response air power to offset India’s numerical advantage. The FC-31 fits perfectly into this playbook: a platform capable of sneaking past Indian early-warning radars, striking strategic assets, and withdrawing before engagement.
Interestingly, this is not the first time Pakistan has outpaced India in the induction of advanced aircraft. In the mid-1950s, Pakistan inducted the F-86 Sabre and F-104 Starfighter before India’s comparable assets arrived. In the 1980s, the F-16 was another game-changer for the PAF.
This consistent trend underscores Pakistan’s agility in securing cutting-edge platforms — even if in limited numbers — to generate strategic ripple effects.
“The PAF has always followed the doctrine of quality over quantity,” explained defense writer Fahd Humayun. “It seeks to counter India’s numerical superiority with precision, technology, and alliances. The FC-31 is another chapter in this history.”
Within India, the reaction to Pakistan’s impending FC-31 induction has been divided.
Former Air Chief RKS Bhadauria has urged patience and persistence with the AMCA program. “Let them get the J-31. What’s important is how we mitigate threats in the interim. That doesn’t mean abandoning our long-term self-reliance vision.”
Others disagree.
“The realpolitik of air warfare demands credible deterrence now, not five years from now,” said Dr. Arvind Mahajan, a defense policy expert. “Even a limited number of stealth aircraft can punch holes in our integrated air defense.”
In the meantime, the IAF has stepped up procurement of Rafale fighters, upgraded Su-30MKI platforms, and longer-range weapons systems, such as the BrahMos II and Astra III AAMs. However, these platforms still lack stealth characteristics, placing them at a disadvantage in first-look, first-shot scenarios.
The Pakistani induction of the FC-31 is more than an air force modernization — it is a signal of shifting power equations in Asia. Combined with China’s stealth arsenal and potential Turkish collaboration via the KAAN program, Islamabad is betting on a future where stealth defines deterrence.
Meanwhile, New Delhi is walking a tightrope: balancing indigenous ambition with immediate needs, while contending with a two-front strategic environment.
