China officially confirmed that the J-10CE fighter achieved its first combat victory in May 2025, by shooting down several enemy aircraft without suffering losses.
The announcement, made by the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, marks Beijing’s first public admission of the actual use of the export model in combat operations.
According to the Chinese government, the confrontation occurred during a mission abroad and represented a milestone for the country’s military export programs. The authority highlighted that the J-10CE, a multirole, single-engine, all-weather fighter, demonstrated performance considered “practical, reliable and competitive” in real war conditions.
Until then, information about the episode came only from Pakistan, which claimed to have used J-10C fighters to repel Indian attacks and shoot down aircraft, including Rafale jets of French origin. Pakistani officials reported that China was informed from the beginning about the aircraft’s participation in the confrontation.
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For the Chinese defense industry, the J-10CE’s combat history strengthens the country’s position in the international arms market. The result is seen as a boost for China’s military exports, in a scenario in which several countries are looking for alternatives to fighter jets of Western origin.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @shen_shiwei | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
#BREAKING China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense: 🇨🇳China has officially confirmed that its export-oriented J-10CE fighter jet achieved its first combat victory last May, shooting down multiple aircraft in aerial combat without… pic.twitter.com/oenGGlXW2z
— Shen Shiwei 陈世伟(@shen_shiwei) January 12, 2026
