{"id":25396,"date":"2026-09-15T11:06:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T05:21:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25396"},"modified":"2026-09-15T11:06:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T05:21:39","slug":"chinese-pilots-keep-j-10-fighter-competitive-in-modern-air-combat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eng.dragonmedia.com.np\/?p=25396","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Pilots Keep J-10 Fighter Competitive in Modern Air Combat<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dragon Media News Desk<\/strong><\/p>\n

As newer and more advanced fighter jets draw increasing attention within the Chinese People\u2019s Liberation Army Air Force, the long-serving J-10 continues to demonstrate its relevance in modern air warfare. Although it may not match the latest-generation aircraft in every technological category, Chinese pilots say tactical innovation, pilot proficiency and integration with joint combat systems allow the J-10 to remain an effective combat platform.<\/p>\n

Bu Jiawen, a recipient of the \u201cMost Beautiful Military Personnel of the New Era\u201d honor and commander of his unit\u2019s flight group, described the J-10 as a mature, versatile and capable mainstay fighter. According to him, the aircraft can conduct air-superiority missions, ground strikes and other operations in complex combat environments.<\/p>\n

Bu said future air warfare will no longer depend on the individual performance of a single fighter. Different aircraft, sensors, command systems and other platforms must work together, with each performing its specialized role as part of an integrated combat system. Such coordination, he said, enables overall combat effectiveness to exceed what individual platforms can achieve independently.<\/p>\n

He stressed that pilot skill remains essential to extracting the full potential of military equipment. \u201cIf the equipment has 100 percent capability, you need to find a way to push it to 110 or 120 percent. If you only use 60 percent and go into battle, that is not the equipment\u2019s fault, it is the pilot\u2019s,\u201d Bu said.<\/p>\n

In routine combat exercises, J-10 pilots often face aircraft with more advanced hardware. Bu said that under such conditions, relying on conventional tactics alone makes victory difficult. Pilots therefore study opponents\u2019 vulnerabilities, develop unconventional approaches and seek tactical solutions that can compensate for technological disadvantages.<\/p>\n

Bu recalled that during an early confrontation exercise, his unit was heavily outmatched by more advanced fighters. Following the poor result, the group began conducting detailed post-flight reviews, analyzing engagement scenarios and repeatedly adjusting its training. The process continued for roughly one to two years, involving extensive flying, repeated testing and gradual refinement of tactics.<\/p>\n

According to Bu, the eventual improvement did not result from a single breakthrough but from accumulated experience and continuous tactical development. He said support from a joint combat system can allow existing aircraft to perform beyond their standalone technical capabilities through better information sharing, coordination and operational planning.<\/p>\n

Bu described the development of the PLA Air Force in one word: \u201cfast.\u201d He recalled that when he graduated and entered service, the J-10 was among China\u2019s most advanced fighters. In little more than a decade, some aircraft that once served in frontline units have already been reassigned to training roles as newer generations of fighters entered service.<\/p>\n

L\u00fc Wentao, a pilot born in 1998, said younger aviators now begin their careers with significantly better technology, training conditions and operational support than previous generations. He believes the higher starting point enables new pilots to develop combat capability more rapidly.<\/p>\n

Both Bu and L\u00fc expressed a desire to fly more advanced fighters in the future, describing that aspiration as common among military pilots. They said advanced aircraft can perform increasingly complex missions, but pilot judgment, tactical thinking and coordination within a wider combat system will remain decisive factors in future warfare.<\/p>\n

The continued use of the J-10 illustrates how the PLA Air Force is seeking to maintain the effectiveness of mature combat platforms even as it introduces newer aircraft, relying on intensive training, tactical innovation and system-level integration to enhance overall combat capability.<\/p>\n

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