BEIJING – China officially confirmed on Monday that its J-10CE fighter jet achieved its first combat success in May 2025, without mentioning Pakistan and India short war in which the former shot down at least six Indian fighter jets when they violated its territory.
China’s export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet has achieved its first confirmed combat success, drawing international attention and reinforcing confidence in the country’s growing defense aviation capabilities, according to official Chinese defence industry assessments released this week.
The State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense included the development among the top ten news stories of China’s national defense science and technology industry in 2025, citing the J-10CE’s initial combat outcome as a landmark achievement for the sector.
According to the official account, the J-10CE recorded its first combat result in May, successfully shooting down multiple aircraft during aerial engagements without sustaining any losses itself. The aircraft is described as an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multi-role fighter independently developed in China and specifically configured for export markets.
“The JF-10CE fighter is an all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multirole combat aircraft independently developed by our country. In recent years, the aviation industry has steadily expanded into both civilian aviation and military trade markets, accelerating the construction of a new development pattern for the aviation industry in the new era. A large number of aviation military trade products, including the JF-10CE, have appeared at international major air shows, forming a complete system,” said the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.
The JF-10CE’s achievement of real combat results overseas this time fully demonstrates that domestically produced aviation equipment is practical, reliable, and effective. Compared with similar foreign equipment, it shows strong competitiveness and can also drive more domestically produced aviation equipment to enter the international market.
Industry analysts say the reported outcome highlights the operational maturity of China’s domestically produced aviation platforms and underscores their readiness for real-world combat environments. The J-10CE’s performance, they add, strengthens its positioning against comparable foreign aircraft and enhances its appeal to prospective international buyers.
In recent years, China’s aviation industry has expanded steadily across both civil aviation and military trade markets, accelerating the formation of what officials describe as a new development pattern for the sector in the modern era. A wide range of aviation defense products — including the J-10CE — have been systematically showcased at major international air shows, reflecting a concerted push to raise global visibility and market penetration.
The successful combat deployment of the J-10CE abroad is being viewed by industry observers as a proof-of-concept moment for China’s defence exports, demonstrating that domestically manufactured aviation equipment is not only practical and user-friendly but also competitive in contested operational environments.
Officials and analysts suggest that the aircraft’s performance could have a spillover effect, helping other Chinese-made aviation systems gain traction in the international market. — LORD
