New customers showing interest in China’s Vigorous Dragon
November 18, 2024
On 12 November Iranian Air Force Chief General Hamid Vahedi inspected the J-10CE, prompting speculation that Iran (previously a customer of some Chinese-built fighters) might be hoping to acquire the type. Three days later it was the turn of the Azerbaijani Air Force Commander, Lieutenant General Namig Islamzade, to inspect the aircraft.
Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that Islamzade had met with his Chinese counterpart, General Chang Dingqiu, and that the two had: “discussed the current state and future prospects of military and military-technical cooperation between the Air Forces of Azerbaijan and China.”
Azerbaijan has recently introduced the Chinese JF-17C Block III into service, and some have speculated that the J-10C could usefully complement the JF-17Cs.
The J-10 bears a very close resemblance to the IAI Lavi, though China has always denied reports that the aircraft was developed with Israeli assistance, preferring to push the narrative that the J-10 was developed from the stillborn J-9 fighter from the 1960s.
Whatever its origins the J-10C is an aerodynamically unstable, agile fighter that relies on a sophisticated fly-by-wire flight control system, and in its latest form incorporates an AESA radar, a glass cockpit and the latest Chinese weapons and targeting pods.
The only export customer to date is Pakistan, which has ordered 36, some 20 of which have been delivered. The aircraft has been offered to Bangladesh and Laos, and to Iran, so far without success, though in September, reports emerged that Egypt had announced that it would buy Chengdu J-10Cs to replace some older F-16s. Seasoned Egypt-watchers pointed out that Egypt is given to announcing purchases and then not following through, often for leverage with a favoured supplier.
