Uzbekistan confirmed as second country to buy China’s J-10CE fighter

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Aug 30, 2026 #Azerbaijan, #Bangladesh, #Beijing, #China, #Egypt, #India, #Indonesia, #Iran, #J-10CE, #Myanmar, #Pakistan, #People's Liberation Army Air Force, #Royal United Services Institute, #South China Morning Post (SCMP), #Uzbekistan

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Uzbekistan confirmed as second country to buy China’s J-10CE fighter

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Video image of the J-10C’s official arrival is shown on Uzbekistan TV as part of Independence Day celebrations on Saturday. Photo: Handout

Video image of the J-10C’s official arrival shown on Uzbekistan TV as part of their Independence Day celebrations on August 29. Photo: Handout

Gabriel DominguezPublished: 6:24pm, 30 Aug 2026Updated: 6:58pm, 30 Aug 2026Uzbekistan confirmed that it has become the second foreign country to acquire the J-10CE fighter, as Beijing makes inroads into a Central Asian market previously dominated by Russian warplanes.

Reports had previously suggested Uzbekistan had ordered 24 J-10CEs, although neither country has confirmed the deal.

However, at least six of the jets were shown in footage released by the Uzbek president’s office on Friday as part of the country’s independence day celebrations.

The footage showed the Uzbek air force warplanes sitting on the runway, flying in formation and receiving a water-cannon salute, a ceremony that is traditionally used to mark significant arrivals.

Beijing has been trying to promote international sales of the single-engine, multirole fighters and Bangladesh recently confirmed it was close to agreeing a deal to buy the planes.

Pakistan was the first foreign buyer of the plane, which played a prominent role in last year’s brief conflict with India.

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