ISLAMABAD / BEIJING – August 2025 — Pakistan and China have further solidified their long-standing defense partnership through expanded air force collaboration, highlighted by the Shaheen-XI joint exercise. Built on decades of strategic trust, the cooperation reflects both nations’ shared focus on regional security, technological advancement, and military readiness.
Strengthening Defense Ties
Defense cooperation between the two countries has steadily grown since the 1960s, evolving from basic coordination to multi-domain collaboration across land, sea, and air. Annual Shaheen exercises, launched in 2011, remain a cornerstone of this partnership, enhancing combat training, pilot skills, and interoperability between the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
Shaheen-XI: Advanced Training in Action
The Shaheen-XI exercise, conducted in November 2024 at a forward airbase in Pakistan, showcased advanced platforms including JF-17 Thunder, J-10C fighter jets, and AWACS systems. Training simulations covered dogfights, precision strikes, electronic warfare, and night operations. Officials noted the drills strengthened mission planning, communication, and combined command-and-control systems—further improving operational readiness.
Source: Arab News
Technology Exposure and Modernization
Participation also provided the PAF with hands-on exposure to cutting-edge Chinese systems. Training with the J-10C, equipped with AESA radar and advanced strike capability, gave Pakistani pilots critical insights into modern warfare. These experiences support ongoing upgrades to the JF-17 Thunder program, including the Block-III variant with improved avionics, beyond-visual-range missiles, and helmet-mounted displays.
Source: Paradigmshift
Strategic and Regional Impact
Beyond tactical gains, the exercises send a strategic signal in South Asia. At a time of heightened India-U.S. defense cooperation, Pakistan-China collaboration demonstrates a counterbalance and reinforces credible deterrence. The alignment also complements wider initiatives like CPEC, where security and defense cooperation are central to sustaining long-term partnerships.
Regional observers view the growing synergy as evidence of a deepening Sino-Pak strategic convergence. For Pakistan, the collaboration enhances defense capacity and embeds critical technological learning, while for China, it cements a trusted regional ally.
