At the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2025 (LIMA 2025), the spotlight has been firmly claimed by an unexpected contender: China’s J-10CE multirole fighter. Developed by the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAIG) and presented by the state-run China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), this export variant of the J-10C has transformed China’s pavilion into a geopolitical flashpoint, drawing crowds and scrutiny from global defense analysts, procurement officials, and military attachés.
According to China’s Global Times, the J-10CE became the “main highlight at China’s booth” at LIMA, not just because of its sleek design or technical specifications, but due to its reported recent success in live combat scenarios. This emerging narrative is propelling China from a peripheral arms exporter to a core competitor in the tactical fighter market.
The J-10C has long been one of the primary platforms in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) since its induction in 2006. However, its transformation into a globally marketed export product—and one apparently blooded in live combat—marks a significant turning point in China’s defense export ambitions.
Though only displayed as a scale model at LIMA 2025, the J-10CE has captured outsized attention due to claims that Pakistan’s Air Force (PAF) recently deployed it to striking effect against Indian aircraft in an escalating border conflict. According to Pakistani officials and widely circulated in Chinese media, PAF J-10Cs downed five Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters, including three Rafales, one Su-30MKI, and a Mirage 2000. These engagements, if confirmed, would be the first known operational use of the Chinese PL-15E long-range air-to-air missile.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed in a press statement that the strikes were conducted solely using J-10Cs armed with PL-15Es, describing the engagements as a “game-changing moment in regional air superiority.” Further reports suggest a follow-up strike resulted in the destruction of another Mirage 2000, amplifying the aircraft’s reputation.
Western analysts have been cautious but intrigued. While some raise concerns about verification and propaganda, others acknowledge the significance if even a portion of the claims prove accurate. French and American defense commentators have noted that the J-10C’s battlefield efficacy, combined with its price point and technology package, could rapidly erode market share for legacy Western aircraft in the Global South.
At its core, the J-10C—and by extension the J-10CE—represents China’s ambition to redefine what a “third party” air force can afford and operate. The aircraft boasts a high thrust-to-weight ratio, a delta-canard aerodynamic layout for enhanced agility, and a cutting-edge avionics suite.
WS-10B turbofan engine: Developed domestically, enabling speeds up to Mach 2 and service ceilings of 18,000 meters.
- AESA radar: Allows advanced target tracking and beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements.
- PL-15 missile: Allegedly offering engagement ranges exceeding 200 km.
- Digital fly-by-wire: With quadruple redundancy, enhancing stability and maneuverability.
- Electronic warfare systems: Including RWRs, ECM pods, and IRST for survivability.
- Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) and a fully integrated glass cockpit.
The aircraft’s multirole capacity is further supported by 11 hardpoints capable of carrying air-to-air, air-to-surface, and anti-ship munitions. This makes it viable for air dominance, precision strikes, and maritime interdiction roles.
The J-10CE is not being offered merely as a fighter jet but as a complete tactical system. China’s defense export pitch includes not just the aircraft, but logistical support, training, technology transfer, and in some cases, local assembly options. This holistic model is gaining traction in regions where budget constraints and geopolitical alignment prevent access to Western platforms.
Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-10C, announced in 2022 and believed to involve over two dozen aircraft, was originally seen as a counterbalance to India’s Rafales. Today, it is being recast as a triumph of strategic procurement.
At LIMA 2025, defense delegations from Malaysia, Egypt, the UAE, Nigeria, and several Southeast Asian nations were seen closely engaging with Chinese representatives. Malaysia in particular is undertaking a major fighter replacement program. While traditionally reliant on Russian and Western sources, rising costs and availability issues are forcing a strategic reconsideration.
What makes the J-10CE’s emergence truly transformative is the shift in perception it represents. For decades, the high-end fighter market was dominated by the US, Europe, and Russia. Chinese jets were often dismissed as imitative, unproven, or technologically inferior. The J-10C challenges that stigma head-on.
Defense analyst Zhang Xuefeng, quoted in Global Times, emphasized that the J-10 project was instrumental in China’s mastery of advanced flight control, avionics integration, and engine development. He notes, “It’s not just a fighter, it’s a platform that trained an entire generation of Chinese aerospace engineers.”
Additionally, China’s development of digital machining, composite materials, and stealth-inclined shaping for the J-10 laid the groundwork for its stealthier fifth-generation programs like the J-20. The J-10CE, therefore, is a bridge—connecting China’s industrial progress to its strategic ambitions.
The PLAAF currently operates an estimated 220 J-10C fighters across multiple theatre commands:
Northern Theatre Command:
- 2nd Air Brigade, Yulong Airbase (Inner Mongolia)
- 34th Air Brigade, Daishuipo Airbase (Shandong)
Western Theatre Command:
- 18th Air Brigade, Lintao Airbase (Gansu)
Southern Theatre Command:
- 124th Air Brigade, Tianyang Airbase (Guangxi)
- 130th Air Brigade, Mengzi Airbase (Yunnan)
This widespread deployment reflects the PLAAF’s trust in the aircraft’s reliability and versatility. It also offers confidence to prospective buyers that they are investing in a platform deeply embedded within a major air force.
LIMA 2025 has traditionally been a showcase for Western aerospace giants and cutting-edge naval systems. But the J-10CE’s star turn signals a broader shift underway. Buyers no longer see the arms market as a binary choice between NATO and Russia. With China fielding combat-tested, technologically advanced systems at competitive prices, a multipolar defense market is becoming a reality.
Whether or not the J-10CE ultimately secures contracts in Malaysia or elsewhere, its impact is undeniable. It has disrupted expectations, challenged legacy players, and sparked a new dialogue about the future of airpower in Asia and the Global South.
Langkawi may mark not just a moment of visibility for the J-10CE, but the dawn of a new chapter in global air combat dynamics. And for China, it is a clear message: they are no longer just playing catch-up—they are setting the pace.
