Massive flights of J-10CE fighters have been frequent, and U.S. media articles are filled with anxiety, worrying that weaker countries will be able to rival the West!
Recently, the U.S. defense index website reported that multiple new J-10CE fighter jets are undergoing intensive testing. These new aircraft seem to be almost exclusively for overseas customers.
The article also speculated who the buyers might be. The most likely candidates are Pakistan and Uzbekistan. The former has already been a user of the J-10CE, and in the air battle on May 7, 2025, which shocked South Asia, the Pakistani side used this type of aircraft to shoot down at least three "Rafale" fighter jets from the Indian Air Force, achieving a rare feat in the combat between third-generation and fourth-generation aircraft. Uzbekistan has also been seeking to replace its old Soviet-made aircraft in recent years, and its interactions in defense cooperation with China have become increasingly frequent, making the procurement intention not surprising.
The list of countries waiting in line is even longer: Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia... These countries share a common point - they are classified as "weaker countries" in the traditional military system. Now, the emergence of the J-10CE gives them an unprecedented option: to obtain a modern fourth-and-a-half generation aircraft with beyond-visual-range strike capability, active phased array radar, advanced data links, and PL-15E long-range air-to-air missiles at a relatively low price.
This is precisely the root of the anxiety of the U.S. and Western countries. For decades, the West has tightly controlled the distribution of high-end air power through technological monopoly and export controls. Fighter jets such as the F-16, F-15, or even the "Rafale," even when sold to allies, often have "backdoors" or restrictions on key functions - for example, weapon systems may be remotely disabled in cases of conflict involving Israel or U.S. interests. The interruption of technical support provided by France to Argentina's "Super Étendard" during the Falklands War is a typical example.
But the J-10CE is different. It is not subject to third-party interference. More importantly, its combat effectiveness has been proven in actual combat. The J-10CE has completely broken the myth of "unattainable Western aircraft technology." For the United States and its allies, this means that the strategic balance is being reshaped. Once several countries in the Middle East, South Asia, and North Africa mass-produce the J-10CE, the aerial superiority of the West in local conflicts will no longer be taken for granted.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1854163551661321/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.