China’s J-10CE Fighter Sale to Uzbekistan Shifts Central Asian Arms Landscape

Uzbekistan has confirmed that its air force now operates Chinese J-10CE fighter jets, releasing footage of at least six aircraft during its recent Independence Day celebrations. The acquisition marks the Central Asian nation’s first confirmed purchase of the export-version of the J-10CE, joining Pakistan as the only foreign operators of the type.

Asia Times

For decades Uzbekistan’s combat aviation relied on Soviet-designed MiG-29s, Su-27s and Su-25s, with Russian spare parts, training and weapons forming the backbone of its fleet. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Russian exports of major arms fell sharply between the 2016-20 and 2021-25 periods, a decline linked to the war in Ukraine that has prompted some customers to seek alternative suppliers. While Russian equipment remains deeply embedded in regional militaries, the assumption that Moscow will automatically supply next-generation fighters is no longer automatic.

Asia Times

China already supplies Uzbekistan with air-defence systems, drones and other military hardware, and has become the country’s largest trading partner. The J-10CE sale extends that relationship into frontline combat aviation. Pakistan’s operation of the aircraft, including its reported performance during the May 2025 India-Pakistan clash, has given Beijing an operational reference point that appears to be influencing other buyers. Bangladesh is reportedly moving toward acquiring J-10CE fighters as part of its broader modernization effort, suggesting the platform could appeal across diverse Asian markets.

Asia Times

The Uzbek purchase signals that Russia’s historical dominance in Central Asian fighter markets faces genuine competition, though Russian hardware and institutional ties remain substantial. The emerging pattern is one of diversification rather than outright substitution, with Turkey’s drone programmes and other suppliers also finding openings. If additional states such as Bangladesh adopt the J-10CE, the aircraft could evolve from a niche export tied to a single strategic partnership into a contender with a genuinely global market.

Asia Times

Saima Afzal, a researcher on South Asian security at Justus Liebig University in Germany, notes that Uzbekistan’s diversification offers greater choice as it modernizes its forces, while for China the sale provides evidence that its frontline combat aviation can break into former Soviet-dominated defense markets.

Asia Times