Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said the addition of the J-10C fighter aircraft to the country’s defence system would help in addressing the regional security imbalance while thanking China for delivering the jet in eight months.

“We are confident that if anyone makes an aggressive move against Pakistan, it will be retaliated by the armed forces with full force,” the prime minister said in his address at the induction ceremony of J-10C – the medium weight and single-engine fighter jet – to the Pakistan Air Force.

The ceremony, at the Minhas Air Base Kamra was attended by federal ministers, three services chiefs, the Chinese ambassador in Pakistan and members of the diplomatic community.

According to APP, the J-10C is a larger aircraft and it can be equipped with a bigger, electronically-active scanned array radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3. The aircraft is able to carry more advanced, fourth-generation air-to-air missiles including the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15, it added.

PM Imran, while congratulating the airforce on its latest induction, said that acountry can only remain independent for as long as it can defend itself. He also expressed satisfaction that the PAF was equipping itself on the lines of modern and indigenous technology.

“Pakistan is heading in the right direction towards development and prosperity,” PM Imran said and highlighted that the country was witnessing economic growth with record tax revenues and foreign exchange.

He said that wealth creation would help the government to strengthen the military capability as well. The premier expressed hope that the government would be able to attract professional expatriates to the country for development.

Moreover, he said Pakistan’s reaction to the Pulwama attack proved to the world that the country had all the capability to defend itself. PM Imran was of the view that armed forces were strengthened when the public was behind them.

“The real strength is that you don’t have to fight the war when the people are aware of your abilities and they are aware of the impending repercussions in case of any aggression,” he added.

Earlier, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu said the air force was prepared and skilled to deter any aggression of the enemy.

“J-10C is a fully integrated weapon, avionic and combat system and its induction into PAF will further strengthen its professional capabilities,” he said, “The occasion is the testimony to the will of Chinese leadership and support for Pakistan.”

The prime minister flanked by three services chiefs inspected the JC-10 aircraft and sat in the cockpit where he was given a briefing about the jet. He also reviewed the guard of honour as the contingent of PAF presented a salute to him.

The prime minister witnessed a fly-past of various formations of aircraft – including the newly inducted J-10C, F-16s, JF-17s and Mirage that showcased a sophisticated array of avionics and weaponry. After the flypast, the PM witnessed the landing of five J-10C aircraft that have been inducted in the 15 Squadron.

Many in Pakistna have called the J-10C deal Pakistan’s answer to Rafales bought by India from France. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid had told journalists in December that jets would be part of the Pakistan Day parade on March 23.

(With input from APP)