Uzbekistan state media has publicly showcased at least six Chengdu J-10CE fighters for the first time during celebrations marking the country’s 35th independence anniversary.
Uzbekistan state media has publicly showcased at least six Chengdu J-10CE fighters for the first time during celebrations marking the country’s 35th independence anniversary.
O’zbekiston 24 Telekanali published footage showing J-10s flying in formation, taxiing on the runway, and receiving a water-cannon salute, confirming the Central Asian country’s acquisition of the Chinese-made aircraft.
The aircraft landed at Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as K2, in the country’s south. K2 used to host US military forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan from 2001 until the Uzbek government evicted American forces in 2005.
The sighting follows previous reports of Tashkent ordering a 24-unit fleet, though China and Uzbekistan have not officially confirmed the details of the aircraft quantity, delivery timeline, and contract value, according to Defence Blog.
This marks Uzbekistan as the second foreign operator of the J-10 after Pakistan, which reportedly deployed the Chinese-made fighters against India’s Rafales during their May 2025 conflict.
Chinese J-10 Fighter
The J-10CE is the export variant of China’s J-10C 4.5-generation single-engine multirole fighter.
It is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar and can carry weapons including the Chinese-made PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile and PL-10E short-range, infrared-guided missile.
The fighter can reach speeds of up to Mach 1.8 (2,223 kilometers/1,381 miles per hour) and has a service ceiling of approximately 18,000 meters (59,055 feet).
While Pakistan’s J-10CE fighter jets are equipped with an in-flight aerial refueling probe, the Uzbek jets were shown without it.
Uzbekistan does not operate aerial tankers, and the Uzbek J-10CEs were shown carrying three external fuel tanks — two under the wings and one on the centerline — for extended-range operations.
Bangladesh, Egypt, and Indonesia have expressed interest in or are actively acquiring the J-10.
