Bolstering Pakistan’s Aerial Kill Chains: Talks Underway to Procure Chinese KJ-500 ‘Flying Radar’ Planes

China and Pakistan have been confirmed to have entered formal negotiations for the sale of a KJ-500 airborne early warning and control (AEW&amp;C) systems, which if finalised could represent a game changer for the Pakistan Air Force’s situational awareness and targeting capabilities in times of conflict. Talks on the procurement are taking place as the Indian Defence Ministry is <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russian-ambassador-details-terms-su57-deal-considered-india" target="_blank">considering</a> a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/indian-pakistani-clashes-win-su57" target="_blank">license production deal </a>to <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-offers-india-unprecedented-control-su57-transfer-full-source-code" target="_blank">procure Russian Su-57</a> fifth generation fighters on a large scale, likely the <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-prepares-su57m1-production-airframe-upgrades" target="_blank">new Su-57M1 variant</a>, which has enhanced stealth capabilities that would pose new challenges in the event of a future air war. The KJ-500 provides advanced detection capabilities against stealth aircraft, particularly when networked with fighters with modern phased array radars and with the radars of ground-based air defence systems. The system has been deployed extensively by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force in supporting roles for its fleet of <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/how-many-j20-stealth-fighter-will-china-build-top-expert-predicts-over-1000" target="_blank">J-20 fifth generation fighters</a>, and has been singled out by figures in the U.S. Air Force leadership as a <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/kj500-flying-radar-america-hates" target="_blank">particular threat</a> to American air power in the Pacific. The system can provide targeting data to fighter units and ground-based air defence systems, and can contribute to guiding anti-aircraft missiles to their targets.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/06/10/article_68480e0126e911_75203833.jpeg" title="Chinese PLA Air Force KJ-500A AEW&amp;C">Negotiations for the sale of the KJ-500 are occurring as Pakistan continues to procure J-10C and JF-17 Block III ‘4+ generation’ fighters from China, which are by far the most capable in its fleet. The Pakistan Air Force is also <a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/pakistan-j35-fifth-gen-before-2027" target="_blank">expected to receive</a> J-35 fifth generation fighters before the end of the decade, with unconfirmed reports indicating that a fleet of 40 of the stealth fighters is planned. The J-10C and JF-17 Block III which form the backbone of the fleet are both lightweight fighters that carry relatively small radars, which makes support from an asset like the KJ-500 particularly valuable. Although larger Chinese fighters such as the J-16 and J-20 carry much larger radars and can operate much more effectively without such support, they still benefit considerably from it, with the importance of supporting AEW&amp;Cs being significantly greater for lighter aircraft. The J-35, although heavier than the J-10C, also carries a radar significantly smaller than those of the J-16 or J-20.&nbsp;<img src="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/m/articles/2025/06/10/article_68480e1b4083c8_17052591.jpeg" title="Chinese PLA Air Force J-10C Armed For Air-to-Air Combat">One month before the first reports of talks to procure the KJ-500 occurred, the Pakistan Air Force made its first deployment of Chinese-supplied ‘4+ generation’ fighters for combat operations, with the J-10C credited with &nbsp;<a href="https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/indian-air-force-faces-pr-crisis-240-million-rafale-destroyed" >shooting down at least one</a>&nbsp;Indian Air Force Rafale fighter during border clashes, among other successes. Confirmation of the superiority which Chinese equipment has increasingly been able to provide may have been a significant factor in the decision to move ahead with procurement of the KJ-500. A further factor may have been the importance of Chinese-developed kill chains, which were reportedly used by the Pakistan Air Force to great effect during clashes with Indian fighter units. Kill chains saw aviation assets and ground based air defence systems networked, allowing missile shorts launched from a particular aircraft or system to be guided by other aircraft or systems to their targets. The KJ-500 is considered an optional asset to strengthen such kill chains. &nbsp;