As the Bilateral Exercise Falcon Strike 2024 continues, various images of the J-10C fighters of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) have surfaced on social media, showing the exercises being conducted with Gripen combat aircraft of the Royal Thai Air Force. Although this is not the first edition of this combined activity, the interaction between Chinese and Western-origin combat aircraft always attracts the attention of specialists.
As previously reported, from August 18 to 29, at Udorn Air Base in Thailand, a new edition of the Bilateral Exercise Falcon Strike is taking place between the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and the Royal Thai Air Force.
Among the aircraft deployed by the PLAAF, the presence of Chengdu J-10C combat aircraft, as well as two-seat J-10AS, and JH-7A attack aircraft, has stood out. Additionally, to transport the support crews to sustain and maintain this deployment, the Chinese Air Force has also deployed one of its Xian Y-20 strategic transport aircraft.
Although further details on the activities have not been provided, the exercises aim to increase the interoperability and combat readiness of both air forces. To this end, it is presumed that combined missions focused on airspace coverage and defense, interception, and the usual formations of teams, where one is the attacker and the other is the defender of simulated targets, are being carried out.
Regarding this last point, and continuing on the plane of presumption, the Chinese Air Force’s J-10C and JH-7A fighters could face off in simulated air combat against the Thai Gripens. More specifically, the JH-7A would be deployed in attack missions escorted and defended by the J-10, while the Gripens must intercept and neutralize them.
These types of bilateral exercises are not an isolated case. Beyond the fact that this edition of Falcon Strike is not the first to be held, the Chinese Air Force is promoting new exercises with potential new partners of the Asian Giant in other regions. One example is the Falcon Shield Exercise recently held in Xinjiang Province with the participation of the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Held this past July, it was an important activity for the Emirati Air Force, which deployed seven Mirage 2000-9 fighter-bombers, supported by C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft and an A330 MRTT tanker. As expressed on that occasion: “Although these do not represent the state of the art, their presence will not only allow their systems to be ‘closely observed’ by Chinese military personnel, but will also provide the opportunity for local combat pilots to train against models operated by countries like Taiwan and India…”.
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