PAF is getting 2 squadrons - which works out to 36 fighters - of which they will demo 25 ( and either the others are still to be delivered or they hold them in reserve incase any of the 25 become inoperable). The recent unveiling of the HQ-19P(B) was when all the units were delivered and integrated so they may follow the same design pattern with the J10Cs.
The J10C is effectively the beginning of the end of the PAF operating American fighters, and signals the end of attempting to get to the 110 F16s that they have planned at the start of the F16 procurement and also the end of the PAF operating western fighters as part of its "next" cycle of force structure upgrades. In real terms, the F16 programme has become a humiliating failure for PAF, and one that they will not to look to repeat ever again with the Americans. If you look at all Pakistani procurements in the last 3-4 years, they have been Chinese, Russian, Turkish or some "European" systems eg CAMM-ER missiles and helicopters ( but which most expect european procurements to decline as the european companies fall foul to Indian snake oil of mytical procurements if they "just" dont sell to Pakistan routine ...), etc. With the exception of some TPS-77 radars(mobile variants) that are still outstanding from a delivery perpsective from the USA - there is nothing in the pipleline to buy from the USA.
The PAF also had a closed door unveiling of the JF17 Block III on 31 Dec 2021. The image shows that the JF17 Block III can be configured to deploy 5 x PL15s, so you will also have a BVR beast that fits in well with the network centric warfare concepts that Pakistan is following. PAF will remain the see-first and shoot first advantage with more AEW&Cs and longer range AAM's.
Official Picture
1641127195655.jpg
Render based on image :
Render.jpg
Patches :
PAC JF-17C Block III Patch.jpg
The J10Cs may well be for offensive strikes into India while the JF17 Block III with PL-15s will take on the Rafale. The J10Cs should be viewed in the context of the replacement of the existing Mirage fleet.
The war fighting strategy of Pakistan is also changing from a defensive mindset to one an that allows for selective offensive strikes, as this is seen as the best deterrence against India.
J10Cs, JF17s, HQ-9Bs (P's), HQ-16s are what Pakistan has procured in the last 3 years interms of AD and they create a formiddable wall that the IAF will find hard to break. The PL15s currently outclass everything that India has ( that includes their newly acquired Meteors ) and the SD-10s outclass everything else that the IAF has. India "had" a quantity advantage but that has become somewhat diluted with the increase in tensions on the LAC with China.
PAF normally buys ~(90-110) of any fighter it purchases(with the exception of the F16 programme which was an American made disaster ... ) so the expectation is that there will be further purchases of the J10C until that number is reached. The other advantage that the J10C offers over the locally built JF17 is financing as PAF can get cheap loans to finance the J10Cs whereas the JF17s require the Goverment of Pakistan to find the money(external loans) which is proving to be a problem for them.
India can only respond via the purchase of more Rafales which many expect, though the sale to UAE recently may complicate things for India interms of delivery timelines unless, of course, the French open another manufacturing line.
PS - it is looking like the PAA is dropping the stalled AH-1Z procurement from the Americans and the T-129's from Turkey, and is now moving to standardise on the Z-10ME platform instead for the replacement of the AH-1Fs in Pakistan.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.