Air Forces of China, Pakistan Conclude First Joint Exercise Involving Mock Battles

Air Forces of China and Pakistan on Friday concluded a two week-long Shaheen VIII joint military exercise involving systematic mock battles for the first time.

Multiple types of warplanes, surface-to-air missiles and radar installations from the two air forces took part in the mock battles, according to a statement released by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force on Saturday.

Chinese warplanes including J-10, J-11, J-16, Su-30 fighter jets, JH-7 fighter bombers and KJ-500 early warning aircraft took part in the drills. Pilots from both countries boarded each other's warplanes and discussed combat techniques, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Saturday.

About 50 warplanes, including fighter jets and early warning aircraft took part in the mock battles consisting of seizing air superiority and ground attack. This marked an unprecedented joint exercise between China and a foreign country with the most number of personnel, types of weapons and combat units involved, the PLA Air Force statement said.

“The Shaheen series joint exercises started as a one-on-one dogfight, but now it has evolved into systematic mock battles featuring more warplanes, multiple military branches which include ground forces that deploy missiles and electronic countermeasures,” Xin Xin, commander of China’s team, said.