China to Deploy J-10C, JH-7A fighter jets in Wargames with Thailand

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will deploy a variety of aircraft including J-10C and JH-7A fighters in "Falcon Strike 2022" joint exercises with Thai military starting August 14.

China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced the holding of these exercises on Friday, amid regional chaos caused by external interference in the Asia Pacific region.

To be hosted by Thailand's Udon Thani based Wing 23 of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), the 10-day exercise reflects the deepening military exchanges and mutual trust between the PLA and RTAF, Chinese experts were quoted as saying by the Global Times.

This edition of the “Falcon Strike” will be the first to feature the PLA's JH-7A fighter-bomber.

According to the MND, the main exercise subjects of this year include air support, ground assault, and force operation. The Chinese Air Force will send fighters, destroyers and early warning aircraft.

Citing a source, Thailand-based Bangkok Post disclosed previously that the PLA is expected to send six J-10C/S fighter jets, a JH-7AI fighter-bomber and a Shaanxi KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft to take part in the exercise. While Thailand is to deploy five Gripen aircraft, three Alphajet attack aircraft and a SAAB 340 AEW early warning and control aircraft.

The drill is the fifth of its kind since 2015, and the last exercise was held in 2019, also in Udon Thani, media reported. The annual fighter jets exercise was put on hold in the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint exercise is aimed at enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the air forces of the two countries, deepening practical cooperation and promoting the continuous development of China-Thailand comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, MND said.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Friday that the upcoming exercise is one of the few large-scale joint exercises in the history of the two countries, with complex training subjects and complete military equipment.

Fu Qianshao, a Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Friday that it will be the first time that China sends a JH-7A fighter-bomber to participate in the joint exercise with Thailand.

The JH-7A fighter-bomber has a combat radius of about 1,500km, and it's mainly for conducting long-range air-to-ground strike with self-defense combat capability, Fu said. The participation of Shaanxi KJ-500 would let the RTAF to get a close look at the role of China's airborne early warning and control aircraft and its ability to find airborne targets at long range.

Song said that in the past, there were more confrontational exercises between China and Thailand mainly involving the air force, rather than such air-ground integrated exercises.

As Thailand mainly purchases weapons and equipment from the West and adopts Western training methods, the drills would help China to have a deeper understanding of the equipment performance and tactics of Western weaponry, Song said. "It's also a process of learning from each other. RTAF can experience the changes of the PLA Air Force in recent years at close range, and also make new thinking and choices for its future military development needs."

Nevertheless, experts stressed that the annual exercise should be viewed in a normal way, as its main goal, counter-terrorism, should not be ignored, especially when terrorism is still growing around the world, which is the reason for strengthening military cooperation between China and Thailand.

RTAF has not purchased fighter jets from China, but as far as I know, they were very impressed by China's J-10C/S fighter jets during the last joint exercise in 2019, Fu noted.