China’s J-10 fighter is gaining fresh international momentum, with Uzbekistan becoming its second confirmed foreign operator after Pakistan, Bangladesh moving closer to a deal, and Egypt remaining linked to a potential purchase.
China’s Chengdu J-10C fighter is gaining ground internationally as Beijing pushes deeper into a combat aircraft market long dominated by the United States, Europe and Russia.
China, ranked the world’s third strongest military by Global Firepower in 2026, has already secured two confirmed foreign operators for the aircraft.
Uzbekistan recently joined Pakistan in operating the J-10CE, the export version of the J-10C, according to the *South China Morning Post*.
At least six J-10CE fighters appeared in footage released around Uzbekistan’s Independence Day celebrations, confirming Tashkent as the aircraft’s second foreign operator after Pakistan.
Earlier reports suggested Uzbekistan could acquire 24 jets, although neither Beijing nor Tashkent has confirmed that figure.
The deal is notable because Uzbekistan has traditionally relied on Russian combat aircraft, making the J-10CE a significant shift in its procurement strategy.
Another Asian country, Bangladesh, confirmed in August that plans to acquire the fighter were moving through government approval, with officials linking their interest to the J-10CE’s combat performance during the May 2025 India-Pakistan confrontation.
“*There is a recent real experience in combat situations. When the war was going on in India-Pakistan, India's Rafale was shot down by the Chinese J-10. This information is now established information*,” Bangladesh government adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said.
The J-10 story is also moving closer to Africa, with Egypt emerging as one of the most closely watched potential buyers.
Cairo’s interest is rooted in a long-running effort to diversify its military suppliers, a strategy that gathered pace after the Obama administration paused an arms transfer in 2013 that included four F-16C Block 52 fighters.
By 2015, the J-10C had emerged as one of the alternatives under consideration. The fighter carries an AESA radar, can deploy the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile and is estimated to cost about $40 million to $50 million per aircraft.
Reports in 2024 said Egypt had agreed to acquire J-10Cs, although the details were never officially released.
*Chatham *House said Cairo’s calculations went beyond hardware, noting that *“Egyptian weapons procurement policy is not only motivated by technical considerations. It also serves political objectives.”*
It added: “*The J-10C fighter jet ticks all the boxes: It satisfies Cairo’s diversity strategy and technological needs. It is under the sanctions threshold since it is less technologically savvy than the most controversial J-20 5th generation fighters, the equivalent to Russia’s SU-35. And it takes Egypt’s military partnership with China to a new level"*
That interest has since been reinforced by closer military cooperation. Chinese J-10C fighters deployed to Egypt for the Eagles of Civilization exercise in 2025, followed by another major joint air exercise in August 2026.
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