The Pakistani Air Force is set to receive FC-31 Gyrfalcon stealth fighters from China as part of the service’s move to revamp its fleet.
Islamabad first revealed the project in 2024 during the commissioning of separate Beijing-made military and transport planes for the air force.
The latest update was verified by a Pakistani government official to Janes, saying that the FC-31 “will begin arriving within months.”
The source did not provide further acquisition details, but it was previously reported that China could supply 30 to 40 jets to Pakistan.
Each aircraft under this package is expected to carry the Chinese-developed PL-17 long-range air-to-air missile that can neutralize threats over 400 kilometers (249 miles) away.
The FC-31 Gyrfalcon Aircraft
Built by China’s state-owned Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, the FC-31 is a fifth-generation jet designed specifically for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force.
It is 17 meters (56 feet) long, has a wingspan of 12 meters (38 feet), and is equipped with twin Klimov RD-93 or WS-13E afterburning turbofans.
The plane is fitted with electronic warfare countermeasures, bombs, and supersonic multi-domain missiles.
It flies at a speed of Mach 1.8 (2,223 kilometers/1,381 miles per hour), has a range of 2,000 kilometers (3,219 miles), and an operational altitude of 16,000 meters (52,493 feet).
