Indus Shield 2024: Pakistan-China air force drills come to end

RAWALPINDI: According to a press release issued by Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), Exercise Indus Shield 2024, a multinational aerial warfare exercise hosted by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), has concluded its bilateral module with China, dubbed Indus Shield-Chinese, at a PAF operational air base.

This module aimed to strengthen military cooperation and interoperability between the Pakistani and Chinese air forces.

The exercise witnessed participation from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force of China, with its personnel and high-tech equipment comprising AESA Radar and Long Range BVR Equipped J-16 & J-10C fighter aircraft, the press release added.

Additionally, Lethal HQ-22 Surface to Air Defence system, Potent Airborne Electronic Warfare YTG-9 Platform, alongside KJ-500 Airborne Early Warning system pitched against PAF’s J-10C and JF-17 Block-III fighter jets simulating contemporary aerial combat scenarios.

The successful execution of such a large-scale exercise demonstrates the Pakistan Air Force’s joint operational readiness among allied nations while addressing contemporary security challenges.

It further aimed at validating interoperability between China and Pakistan in the face of contemporary air combat challenges and by simulating various military tactics in near-realistic multi-domain operations training.

Indus Shield-Chinese has maximized the warfighting potential of both the participating air forces.

The broader Exercise Indus Shield 2024 involves participation from 14 countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Morocco, Uzbekistan, China, and Hungary.

The exercise focuses on enhancing operational capabilities, combat readiness, and strategic partnerships among participating nations.