Chinese social media accounts and open-source defence watchers claimed, on July 21 and 22, 2026, that four additional Chengdu J-10CE fighters had reportedly been received by Uzbekistan’s Air and Air Defence Forces.
However, no official announcement from Tashkent or Beijing confirms this delivery. Caution is all the more warranted as similar claims have already circulated regarding the J-10 without being followed by any known material confirmation, although Uzbekistan’s choice of a Chinese aircraft now appears to fit within a more credible framework.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Defence had confirmed, in July 2025, a contract for 24 J-10CEs, with deliveries planned in stages and conversion training for pilots in China. The only officially established arrival remains that of two aircraft in Tashkent on July 2, 2025. This sequence provides a solid reference point for assessing the claims that emerged this week, without making it possible to conclude that the new batch of four aircraft has indeed been handed over to the Uzbek forces.
Early delivery announcements are common in Chinese military observation circles, particularly when aircraft are spotted leaving the factory or in configurations intended for export. They may precede official communication, but can also confuse aircraft undergoing trials, in transit, or simply being prepared for a customer. In the Uzbek case, the contract timeline makes progress in the programme plausible, while bringing 24 fighters into operational service, with pilots, mechanics, weapons and simulators, is likely to take several years.
The publication notes that the agreement will strengthen China's military-industrial influence in Central Asia and weaken Russia's traditional dominance in the regional arms market. At the same time, the report highlights that Uzbekistan intends to maintain its security cooperation with Moscow as part of its multi-vector foreign policy.
Note: The J-10CE is China's most advanced export-oriented, 4.5-generation multirole fighter jet. Developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, this aircraft is the export variant of the J-10C model produced for the domestic market.
Key Technical Specifications:
- Generation: 4.5-generation
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Engine: Single turbofan engine
- Top Speed: Approximately Mach 2 (2,100–2,300 km/h)
- Combat Radius: 1,200–1,500 km (depending on the mission)
- Aerial Refueling: Supported
- Payload Capacity: Approximately 6–7 tons
To date, the Pakistan Air Force is the only foreign operator to have acquired the J-10CE, having integrated the jets into service starting in 2022.
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