Foreign Media: First Batch of J-10C Fighters Delivered to Uzbekistan Air Force
According to a report published on the Military Watch Magazine website on August 13, 2026, Uzbekistan's Air and Air Defense Forces have received the first batch of Chinese-made J-10C fighters. For several months prior, reports had indicated that Uzbek pilots and ground maintenance personnel were undergoing training in China. Additionally, multiple sources mentioned that Uzbekistan encountered delays and various integration challenges during the adaptation process to this new fighter aircraft. With this delivery, the Uzbek Air Force has become the third air force in the world to operate the J-10C, following the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Pakistan Air Force. Unverified reports suggest that Uzbekistan’s total order amounts to 24 J-10C fighters; however, specific details regarding contract execution progress and phased delivery schedules remain unconfirmed.
The procurement of the J-10C reflects the deepening cooperation between Uzbekistan and China’s defense industry. In recent years, the country has continuously expanded its collaboration with China across economic, technological, and strategic dimensions. This fighter acquisition complements previous plans by Uzbekistan to import Chinese air defense systems, enabling the Central Asian nation to establish a complete Chinese-origin combat subsystem within its overall air defense architecture. Modernized fighter aircraft paired with land-based air defense systems, along with accompanying Chinese support infrastructure, are gradually replacing Uzbekistan’s legacy Soviet/Russian equipment and their associated maintenance networks. The Uzbek armed forces have already phased out outdated Soviet-era air defense systems, opting instead for China’s HQ-9B, FM-90, and KS-1C air defense systems.
In April 2025, a source familiar with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defense’s Defense Industry Department revealed that China had approved the export of a certain type of fighter jet. This announcement immediately triggered widespread speculation, with external observers suggesting possible candidates could include the FC-1 Block III, the J-10C, or even China’s fifth-generation fighter, the J-35. The country’s existing fourth-generation Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters are nearing the end of their operational lifespans. Earlier reports indicated that Uzbekistan had considered acquiring either Russia’s Su-30SM or France’s Rafale fighters. Neighboring Kazakhstan, which possesses a larger air force and greater defense budget, had previously conducted comparative assessments between Russian and French platforms before ultimately selecting the longer-range, more capable Su-30SM.
Uzbekistan is one of four former Soviet republics that inherited the heavy air-superiority Su-27 fighter jets after the dissolution of the USSR. The Su-27 was once the most capable air superiority platform in Uzbekistan and is widely recognized as one of the finest fighter aircraft from the Cold War era. These Su-27s were fully retired by the early 2020s. Once all J-10C deliveries are completed, the remaining lighter MiG-29 fighters will also be phased out of active service. Compared to the Su-27 and MiG-29, the J-10C offers significantly reduced operating and maintenance costs. Its airframe extensively uses composite materials, while its avionics and weapon systems represent a technological leap ahead of Soviet-designed fighters by over three decades.
Disclaimer: The equipment data above is sourced from reporting on the Military Watch Magazine website.
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Original article: toutiao.com/article/1873465064547595/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.